REDEEMING GRACE
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
Senior Division, No. 296, Second Quarter, 1969
THE BLESSING OF DAILY STUDY
"As a means of intellectual training, the opportunities of the Sabbath are
invaluable. Let the Sabbath School lesson be learned, not by a hasty glance at
the lesson scripture on Sabbath morning, but by careful study for the next week
on Sabbath afternoon, with daily review or illustration during the week. Thus
the lesson will become fixed in the memory, a treasure never to be wholly lost."
—Counsels on Sabbath School Work,
page 43.
My Daily Lesson Study Pledge
As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of the Scriptures, I
pledge myself to the careful and prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath
School lesson each day of the week.
Nana
Lesson Titles for the Quarter
1.
Redemptive Activity of the Godhead
2.
The Unchanging Purpose of God
3.
Grace Revealed in the Life of Jesus
4.
Grace and the Cross of Calvary
5.
Paul's Teachings of Redeeming Grace
6.
Justification by Faith Through Grace
7.
Grace and the Sanctified Life
8.
Redeeming Grace and the Law
9.
God's Grace and Christian Perfection
10.
The Grace of God and the Covenants of the Bible
11.
Redeeming Grace and Predestination
12.
Redeeming Grace and Christian Fellowship
13.
Grace and Power in the Remnant Church
NorE.—All Scripture references quoted from Phillips were taken from
The New
Testament in Modern English
by
J. B.
Phillips, copyright 1958. Used by permission of
the Macmillan Company.
All Scripture references quoted from the NEB are from
The New English Bible,
copy-
right by The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and The Syndics of the Cambridge
University Press, 1961. Used by permission of the Oxford University Press, Inc., New
York City.
Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, No. 296, April-June, 1969. 20 cents a single copy, 75 cents a
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Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly
REDEEMING GRACE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
"Grace" is one of the supremely impor-
tant words in both Christian theology and
Christian experience.
Its importance in theology can be seen
from the fact that the whole gospel is
called "the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:24.
"We ourselves owe everything to God's
free grace. Grace in the covenant ordained
our adoption. Grace in the Saviour effected
our redemption, our regeneration, and our
exaltation to heirship with Christ. Let
this grace be revealed to
others."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
page 250.
The importance of God's grace in human
experience may be seen from the statement
that "Christ's favorite theme was the pa-
ternal tenderness and abundant grace of
God."—Ibid.,
p. 40.
"Practically, it [grace] implies God's pres-
ence and redemptive power in human life."
—W. H. Griffith Thomas,
Grace and Power
(London: Pickering & Inglis), page 85.
May these lessons lead us to realize the
sufficiency of redeeming grace in our own
lives
(2
Cor. 9:8; 12:9), and may the
inexpressible glory of this grace flow out-
ward to become saving grace to others.
Lesson 1, for April 5, 1969
Redemptive Activity of the Godhead
MEMORY VERSE: "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."
Eph. 1:4.
STUDY HELPS: "Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 34, 35, 63-66; "The Desire of
Ages," pages 19, 20; "The Ministry of Healing," pages 161-163; "SDA Bible
Commentary."
STUDY AIM: To gain a better understanding of God's plan for salvation devised
before creation as a free gift for all men, and His continuing desire that all
should be saved.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. Redemption Planned Before Man's
Creation
1. Divine wisdom in the beginning.
Prov. 8:1, 22, 23.
2.
Eternal relationship of the
Father and the Son. John 1:1-3, 14;
17:5, 24.
3.
Divine activities in the beginning.
Rev. 13 :8 ; Eph. 1:3, 4 ; 1 Peter
1:18-20.
4.
Divine purpose for man.
2 Tim. 1:9.
[
4
1
II. The Nature of Grace
5.
The means of revelation.
John 1:14, 17.
6.
The results of grace in the life.
Rom. 3:24.
7.
The definition of grace.
The Ministry of Healing,
page 161.
8.
Adam's fall and redeeming grace.
Gen. 3:2, 6, 15.
III. Universal Grace
9. Needed by all men. Rom. 3:23-25.
10. Available to all men.
1 Tim. 2:4, 6; Titus 2:11.
11. Assures salvation as God desired.
2 Peter 3:9.
12. Efficacious in all who come to
God. John 6:44, 45; 1 Cor. 15:10.
THE LESSON
Introduction
"The history of the great conflict between
good and evil, from the time it first began
in heaven to the final overthrow of rebel-
lion and the total eradication of sin, is also
a demonstration of God's unchanging love.
"The Sovereign of the universe was not
alone in His work of beneficence. He had
an associate-a co-worker who could ap-
preciate His purposes, and could share His
joy in giving happiness to created beings.
`In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was
God. The same was in the beginning with
God.' John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the
only-begotten of God, was one with the eter-
nal Father-one in nature, in character, in
purpose-the only Being that could enter
into all the counsels and purposes of
God. 'His name shall be called Wonder-
ful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.'
Isaiah 9:6. His 'goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting.' Micah
5:2.
And the Son of God declares concerning
Himself: 'The Lord possessed Me in the
beginning of His way, before His works
of old. I was set up from everlasting. . . .
When He appointed the foundations of the
earth: then I was by Him, as one brought
up with Him: and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing always before Him.' Proverbs 8:
22-30."-Patriarchs and Prophets,
pages
33, 34.
Redemption Planned Before
Man's Creation
1. What does the wise man de-
clare concerning "wisdom"? Prov. 8:
1,
22, 23.
NOTE.
-"The
Son of God declares con-
cerning Himself: [Prov. 8:22-30 quoted]."
-Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 34.
2. How is the eternal relationship
between the Father and the Son ex-
pressed? John 1:1-3, 14; 17:5, 24.
NoTE.-Eternal Wisdom appeared to men
as the eternal Word. He was eternally
glorious (John 17:5) and eternally be-
loved (John 17:24).
3. What activities of the Godhead
prior to creation are revealed in the
written Word? Rev.
13:8;
Eph. 1:3, 4;
1 Peter 1:18-20. Compare Rev. 17:8.
NOTE.
-"The
Son of God, heaven's glo-
rious Commander, was touched with pity
for the fallen race. His heart was moved
with infinite compassion as the woes of
the lost world rose up before Him. But
divine love had conceived a plan whereby
man might be redeemed."-Patriarchs
and
Prophets,
page 63.
4. In what words does Paul show
that God's eternal purpose for man-
kind was one of gracious redemption?
2 Tim. 1:9.
NOTE.-Every
believer lives "in hope of
eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began." Titus
[5
]
1:2. The grace of God existed before the
world was made.
"God's wonderful purpose of grace, the
mystery of redeeming love, is the theme
into which 'angels desire to look,' and it
will be their study throughout endless
ages."—The Desire of Ages,
page 19.
The Nature of Grace
5.
How was divine grace revealed
to men, and with what was it associ-
ated? John 1:14, 17.
NOTE.—There was a special revelation of
divine grace and truth through Christ's
earthly life, but grace has been poured upon
men in all ages by our Lord Jesus Christ.
"What privilege, then, was theirs who for
three years were in daily contact with that
divine life from which has flowed every life-
giving impulse that has blessed the world !"
—Gospel Workers,
page 508.
6.
What great words does Paul as-
sociate with grace? Rom. 3:24.
Nom—Justification comes when we con-
fess our sins, and when we "accept the
righteousness of Christ. His blood atones
for our sins. His obedience is accepted for
us. Then the heart renewed by the Holy
Spirit will bring forth 'the fruits of the
Spirit.' Through the grace of Christ we
shall live in obedience to the law of God
written upon our
hearts."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
page 372.
7.
How has grace been defined?
ANSWER.—No specific definition of grace
is given in the Bible, but the Scriptures
reveal grace exemplified in human lives.
Outside the Bible, grace has been defined
as follows:
"To learn of Christ means to receive
His grace, which is His character."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
page 271.
"Grace is an attribute of God exercised
toward undeserving human beings. We did
not seek for it, but it was sent in search
[ 6 ]
of us. God rejoices to bestow His grace
upon us, not because we are worthy, but
because we are so utterly unworthy. Our
only claim to His mercy is our great need."
—The Ministry of Healing,
page 161.
From this we can see that grace is really
the outgoing of God's living power and
love to seek out, and provide redemption
for, lost mankind.
"Grace is God's Mercy pitying. . .
Grace is God's Wisdom planning. . . .
Grace is God's Power preparing. . . . Grace
is God's Love providing. . . .
"Grace is the character of God, including
mercy and truth, righteousness and peace.
Grace is the union of love and holiness, the
very foundation of the nature of God in
Christ."—W. H. Griffith Thomas,
Grace
and Power
(London: Pickering & Inglis),
pages 86-89.
8.
What experience of our first par-
ents made redeeming grace necessary?
Gen. 3:2, 6, 15. Compare Gen. 1:31;
2:16, 17.
Universal Grace
9.
What proof is given that all men
need and may obtain the redeeming
grace freely offered by our Saviour?
Rom. 3:23-25.
10.
What New Testament state-
ments reveal that all men were in-
cluded in the plan of redemption?
For how many did Jesus die? 1 Tim.
2:4, 6; Titus 2:11.
NOTE.—" 'The grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to
all
men.' This
is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Saviour; who will have
all men
to be
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of
the truth. For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and men, the Man
Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom
for
all.'
Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:3-6. The
Spirit of God is freely bestowed to enable
every man to lay hold upon the means of
salvation. Thus Christ, 'the true Light,'
`lighteth every man that cometh into the
world.' John 1:9. Men fail of salvation
through their own willful refusal of the gift
of life."-The
Great Controversy,
pages
261, 262.
11. What was God's desire con-
cerning the human family? 2 Peter
3:9.
NoTE.-That God's grace is offered to
all is clearly seen in these words: "For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men." Titus 2:11. This
grace becomes effective only to those who
repent.
12. Upon what is man dependent
in order to accept the salvation offered
in Christ? John 6:44, 45; 1 Cor. 15:10.
NOTE.-"There
must be a power work-
ing from within, a new life from above, be-
fore men can be changed from sin to holi-
ness. That power is Christ. His grace alone
can quicken the lifeless faculties of the
soul, and attract it to God, to holiness."-
Steps to Christ,
page 18.
Lesson 2, for April 12, 1969
The Unchanging Purpose of God
MEMORY VERSE:
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have
loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I
drawn thee." Jer. 31:3.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Great Controversy," pages 483-485; "Patriarchs and Proph-
ets," pages 65-69, 105-107; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To gain a better understanding and appreciation of God's love for
mankind, and the glory of His saving grace in His redeemed people.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. God's Purposes of Grace
1.
The glory of His grace.
Eph. 1:4-6.
2.
The work of Christ for His church.
Eph. 5:25-27.
3.
The exaltation of God.
1 Cor. 15:28 (last clause).
II. The Unchanging Love of God
4.
Love a motive in creation.
Gen. 1:26-28.
5.
Conflict the result of disobedience.
Gen. 3:15.
6.
Mercy and love the basis of God's
covenant with Noah. Gen. 9:11-16.
7. Gracious foreknowledge in the
promise of the coming Redeemer.
Gen. 12:3.
III. The Persistence of God's Gracious
Love
8.
The outstretched arm to save.
Hosea 12:13 ; 13:5; Amos 2:9, 10;
3:1, 2.
9.
The arms of everlasting love.
Jer. 31:1-3.
10.
The divine choice of Israel.
Deut. 7:7, 8.
11.
The forgiveness of sin. Ex. 34:6-9.
12.
The pardon of man. Isa. 44:22;
43:25.
13.
The remnant of grace. Rom. 11:1-5.
[7
]
THE LESSON
spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, 0
God, Thou wilt not despise.' Psalm 51:17.
And to the accuser of His people He de-
clares: The Lord rebuke thee, 0 Satan;
even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem
rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked
out of the fire?' Zechariah
3:2.
Christ will
clothe His faithful ones with His own
righteousness, that He may present them
to His Father 'a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.'
"—The
Great Controversy,
page 484.
3.
What is the ultimate purpose of
God through the completed plan of
salvation? 1 Cor. 15:28 (last clause).
Introduction
"The history of nations speaks to us
today. To every nation and to every in-
dividual God has assigned a place in His
great plan. Today men and nations are
being tested by the plummet in the hand
of Him who makes no mistake. All are
by their own choice deciding their destiny,
and God is overruling all for the accom-
plishment of His purposes."—Prophets
and
Kings,
page 536.
"The Word of God, like the character of
its divine Author, presents mysteries which
can never be fully comprehended by finite
beings. It directs our minds to the Creator,
who dwelleth 'in the light which no man
can approach unto.' It presents to us His
purposes, which embrace all the ages of
human history, and which will reach their
fulfillment only in the endless cycles of
eternity. It calls our attention to subjects
of infinite depth and importance relating
to the government of God and the destiny
of
man."—Testimonies,
Vol. 5, p. 699.
God's Purposes of Grace
1.
What was God's purpose in the
creation and redemption of man?
Eph. 1:4-6. Compare Eph. 2:7.
2.
In carrying out the divine pur-
poses of redeeming grace, what did
Christ do for His church? Eph. 5:
25-27.
NoTE.—It is an act of divine grace that
allows believers 'to be clothed in the spot-
less robe of Christ's righteousness.
"While Jesus is pleading for the subjects
of His grace, Satan accuses them before
God as transgressors. . . .
"Jesus does not excuse their sins, but
shows their penitence and faith, and, claim-
ing for them forgiveness, He lifts His
wounded hands before the Father and the
holy angels, saying: I know them by name.
I have graven them on the palms of My
hands. 'The sacrifices of God are a broken
8
NOTE.—"Since God, by virtue of His
perfection, must always wish the highest,
and since He Himself, by virtue of His
Deity,
is
the highest, He must always have
that which is within His own nature as the
goal of His will. Therefore must His work
be so ordered that it may lead
to Him
and
have its end
in Him.
Thus the purpose of
the creation of the world must consist in
the unfolding, setting forth, and displaying
of the glory of God. Himself is its begin-
ning, middle, and ultimate objective, the
first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega.
(Rom. 11:36; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2)."—
Erich Sauer,
The Dawn of World Re-
demption
(London: The Paternoster Press,
1951), pages 23, 24.
However important individual men are
in the, plan of redemption, we must re-
member that a world of men saved from
sin will glorify God beyond all else. See
The Great Controversy,
page 673, para-
graph 2. Compare Rev. 5:13.
The Unchanging Love of God
4. How is the creation of man de-
scribed? Gen. 1:26-28.
NoTE.—"Love [is] the basis of creation
and of redemption."—Counsels
to Parents,
Teachers, and Students,
page 32.
"All created things testify to His power,
His wisdom, His
love."—Testimonies,
Vol.
8, p. 265.
5.
In what words was God's first
promise to redeem sinful man given?
What dual purpose was to be served
by this plan? Gen. 3:15.
NOTE.—"To man the first intimation of
redemption was communicated in the sen-
tence pronounced upon Satan in the gar-
den."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 65.
"But the plan of redemption had a yet
broader and deeper purpose than the sal-
vation of man. It was not for this alone
that Christ came to the earth ; it was not
merely that the inhabitants of this little
world might regard the law of God as it
should be regarded; but it was to vindi-
cate the character of God before the uni-
verse. . . . The act of Christ in dying for
the salvation of man would not only make
heaven accessible to men, but before all the
universe it would justify God and His Son
in their dealing with the rebellion of Satan."
—Ibid.,
pp. 68, 69.
6.
After the Flood destroyed the
antediluvian world, what covenant of
mercy and love did God make with
man? Gen. 9:11-16.
NOTE.—"How great the condescension of
God and His compassion for His erring
creatures in thus placing the beautiful rain-
bow in the clouds as a token of His cov-
enant with men ! The Lord declares that
when He looks upon the bow, He will re-
member His covenant. . . . Thus from
generation to generation it would testify
of divine love to man and would strengthen
his confidence in God.. . .
"With the assurance given to Noah con-
cerning the Flood, God Himself has linked
one of the most precious promises of His
grace: 'As I have sworn that the waters
of Noah should no more go over the earth;
so have I sworn that I would not be wroth
with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the moun-
tains shall depart, and the hills be re-
moved; but My kindness shall not depart
from thee, neither shall the covenant of
My peace be removed, saith Jehovah
that hath mercy on
thee.'"—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
pages 106, 107.
7.
What gracious promise in the
patriarchal age contained the proph-
ecy of a numerous progeny and the
appearance of the world's Redeemer?
Gen. 12:3. Compare Gal. 3:8, 9, 16.
NOTE.—"There was given to Abraham
the promise, especially dear to the people
of that age, of a numerous posterity and
of national greatness: 'I will make of thee
a great nation, and I will bless thee, and
make thy name great; and thou shalt be
a blessing.' And to this was added the
assurance, precious above every other to
the inheritor of faith, that of his line the
Redeemer of the world should come."—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 125.
The Persistence of God's
Gracious Love
8.
How do the prophets state the
initiative of God in the rescue of His
people from ancient captivity? Hosea
12:13; 13:5; Amos 2:9, 10; 3:1, 2.
NoTE.—"Brought Israel out of Egypt,"
"I did know thee in the wilderness," "I
brought you up from the land of Egypt,"
"Led you forty years through the wilder-
ness," "You only have I known"—these
and many similar expressions reveal the
paternal outgoing love of God for His
people, despite their many transgressions.
9.
In what endearing terms is God's
love expressed toward His people?
Jer. 31:1-3.
Nora.—"Loving-kindness" in Jeremiah
31:3 is a word first used by the Bible
translator Miles Coverdale in 1535, and
comes from the Hebrew word
chesed,
a
word often used to express the unswerving
covenant love of God. When it is used
of God it is one of the background words
which lead on to the word "grace"
(charis)
in the New Testament.
10.
What reason is given for the
Lord's choice of Israel as His own
people? Deut. 7:7, 8. Compare Deut.
4:37.
[9
1
NOTE.—"In this relation [that of grace
as a personal relationship] God has the
initiative. He loves the people of Israel for
no reason whatever, without any merit
on their part (Deut. 4:37; 10:15; Hosea
3:1; 11:1). The election of Israel is thus
grounded on the grace of God (Deut. 7:
7-8; 9:5-6)."—J. J. Von Allmen,
Vocabu-
lary of the Bible,
Art. "Grace" (London:
Lutterworth Press, 1958), page 158.
11.
What did Moses associate with
God's grace toward sinful men? Ex.
34:6-9. Compare Ps. 32:5.
NoTE.—"Notwithstanding our unwor-
thiness, we are to remember that there is
One who can take away sin, and who is
willing and anxious to save the sinner.
With His own blood He paid the penalty
for all wrongdoers. Every sin acknowledged
before God with a contrite heart, He will
remove [Isa. 1:18; Heb. 9:13, 14 quoted]."
—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible
Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 970.
12.
How is redemption associated
with the blotting out of sin? For the
sake of what two parties are sins
forgiven? Isa. 44:22; 43:25.
NoTE.—The sinner needs forgiveness in
order to be saved; God extends forgive-
ness because it is the glory of His gracious
nature to do so.
"Satan in his efforts to deceive and
tempt our race had thought to frustrate
the divine plan in man's creation; but
Christ now asks [in the investigative judg-
ment] that this plan be carried into effect
as if man had never fallen. He asks for
His people not only pardon and justifica-
tion, full and complete, but a share in His
glory and a seat upon His throne."—The
Great Controversy,
page 484.
Forgiveness and cleansing from sin were
the provisions of God's "new covenant"
of grace in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
13.
Through whom has God pre-
served His truth in times of general
apostasy? Rom. 11:1-5. Compare Rev.
12:17.
NOTE.—"SO too at the present time
there is a remnant, chosen by grace." Rom.
11:5, RSV.
"The Father sets His love upon His elect
people who live in the midst of men. These
are the people whom Christ has redeemed
by the price of His own blood ; and be-
cause they respond to the drawing of
Christ, through the sovereign mercy of
God, they are elected to be saved as His
obedient children. Upon them is mani-
fested the free grace of God, the love
wherewith He hath loved them. Everyone
who will humble himself as a little child,
who will receive and obey the Word of
God with a child's simplicity, will be
among the elect of God."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
6, p. 1114.
Lesson 3, for April 19, 1969
Grace Revealed in the Life of Jesus
MEMORY VERSE:
"And of His fullness
have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
John 1:16, 17.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," chapters 19, 62; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To discover in
the life of Jesus the revelation of God's grace and
the motivating power throughout Christ's
life even to
the hour when He hung
on the cross.
[10]
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. Saving Grace
1.
The fullness of saving grace.
Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:28, 30-33.
2.
The way of salvation. Eph. 2:4-8.
3.
The manifestation of redeeming
grace. Luke 4:22; 7:21-23.
II. Continuing Grace
4.
The example of Christ. John 1:14.
5.
The abundant supply. John 1:16.
6.
The multiplied gifts. Rom. 5:15
(last part).
III. Grace in Christ's Teachings
7.
The fruitful example. Luke 7:36-
38, 47, 48.
8.
The rescued sinner. Luke 14:16-24.
9.
The powerful Word. John 4:9, 19,
29, 30.
IV. The Initiative of Grace in
Seeking the Lost
10.
The inner compulsion. Mark 1:38.
11.
The gift of eternal life. Mark
10:24-27.
12.
The conversion on the cross.
Luke 23:39-43.
THE LESSON
antiquity had sounded the promise, `Lo, I
come' (Ps. 40:7; Zech. 2:10; Heb. 10:7).
For centuries the Hebrew people-His peo-
ple-had waited expectantly for the com-
ing of their Deliverer. Now, 'when the
fulness of time was come' (Gal. 4:4), the
finger of destiny pointed to the One who
was to fulfill these expectations."-SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Matt. 1:21.
Introduction
"To learn of Christ means to receive His
grace, which is His character."-Christ's
Object Lessons,
page 271.
"Never had the world's great men such
a teacher. When the disciples came forth
from the Saviour's training, they were no
longer ignorant and uncultured. They had
become like Him in mind and character,
and men took knowledge of them that they
had been with Jesus... .
"What privilege, then, was theirs who
for three years were in daily contact with
that divine life from which has flowed
every life-giving impulse that has blessed
the world! Above all his companions, John
the beloved disciple yielded himself to the
power of that wondrous life. He says, 'The
life was manifested, and we have seen it,
and bear witness, and show unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father,
and was manifested unto us.' Of His full-
ness have all we received, and grace for
grace.'
"-The Desire of Ages,
page 250.
Saving Grace
1. In
the announcement to Joseph
and Mary what was prophesied con-
cerning Jesus? Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:28,
30-33.
NoTE.-The word
Jesus
means "God is
salvation."
"Echoing down through the ages of
2.
What important aspect of the
way of salvation does Paul emphasize
by repetition? Eph. 2:4-8.
NoTE.-"Not only mercy but 'rich in
mercy.' Not only love but 'His great love
wherewith He loved us.' Not only grace
but 'the exceeding riches of His grace.'
And to make it still more beautifully hu-
man, the culminating point is 'His kind-
ness toward us through Christ Jesus.' And
then this is seen to be the source of our
salvation. Tor by grace are ye saved,
through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God' (Eph. ii:8). It is
grace
. . that purposed salvation, grace
that purchased it, grace that proclaimed it,
and it is grace that applies it to our souls."
-W. H. Griffith Thomas,
Grace and Power
(London: Pickering & Inglis), page 90.
3.
How were the words and power
of redeeming grace evident in the life
of Jesus? Luke 4:22; 7:21-23. Com-
pare Acts 10:38.
NoTE.—"They were surprised that words
of such grace should fall from His lips."
Luke 4:22, NEB.
Continuing Grace
4.
How does John describe Christ
as the embodiment of God's grace?
John 1:14.
NoTE.—The focal point in all of Christ's
work was the redeeming love and grace of
God. John caught the glory of grace in
Christ and gives the striking description of
Christ as "full of grace and truth." It was
left for Paul to take the word
charis,
"grace," and give it the full New Testa-
ment meaning of power to save to the
uttermost, and to systematize the doctrine
of grace for future generations. Thus Jesus
was the living embodiment of the grace
that the disciples expounded and sought
for earnestly.
5.
What did John say about the
supplies of grace made available to
the believer through Jesus Christ?
John 1:16.
NOTE.—"Grace for grace," may be ren-
dered "grace upon grace." The more we
appropriate, the more is bestowed.
"The truth of God received into the
heart is able to make you wise unto sal-
vation. In believing and obeying it you
will receive grace sufficient for the duties
and trials of
today."—Testimonies,
Vol. 3,
p. 333.
"No amount of past experience will
suffice for the present nor strengthen us
to overcome the difficulties in our path. We
must have new grace and fresh strength
daily in order to be victorious."—Ibid.,
p. 541.
6.
What has been the result of the
initial saving grace of God? Rom. 5:
15 (last part).
NoTE.—God's grace leads us to initial
belief and salvation. Acts 15:11; 18:27.
Since its first manifestation grace continues
to operate and produces changed lives in
believers. Thus Barnabas saw the grace of
God in the changed lives of the saints in
Antioch. Acts 11:23. When Stephen's life
was changed, he was "full of faith and
power." Acts 6:8. (Instead of "faith" many
manuscripts read "grace.")
"If you live upon the plan of addition,
adding grace to grace, God will multiply
unto you His
grace."—Testimonies,
Vol. 4,
p. 244.
Grace in Christ's Teachings
7.
What exchange of gifts in Christ's
contact with a grateful woman illus-
trates the glory of grace in action?
Luke 7:36-38, 47, 48.
Not
-
E.—Forgiveness of sin (verse 48), as
a work of redeeming grace, was a marvelous
gift for a woman who gave her all in a
box of expensive fragrance.
"Kingdoms would rise and fall; the
names of monarchs and conquerors would
be forgotten; but this woman's deed would
be immortalized upon the pages of sacred
history. Until time should be no more,
that broken alabaster box would tell the
story of the abundant love of God for a
fallen race."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
563.
"Through His grace she [Mary] became
a partaker of the divine nature. The one
who had fallen, and whose mind had been
a habitation of demons, was brought very
near to the Saviour in fellowship and min-
istry."—Ibid.,
568.
8.
What does the parable of the
great supper teach as to the initiative
of divine grace? Luke 14:16-24.
NoTE.—Notice some of what may be
called the "grace" words and phrases in
this passage: (1) "Made a great supper."
"Christ [here] represents the blessings of-
fered through the
gospel."—Christ's Object
Lessons,
page 222. (2) "And bade many,"
or "invited many." The Pharisees invited
the "best people," but the gospel of redeem-
ing grace embraces the whole human fam-
ily. "The Lord desires that His word of
[ 12
grace shall be brought home to every soul."
—Ibid.,
p. 229; (3) "Sent his servant . . .
to say . . . Come; for all things are now
ready." "The power of God's love and
grace constrains us to come."—Ibid., p.
235; (4) "Go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel them to come in."
There are high and low, humble and
haughty, rich and poor in all lands to be
reached. "Let the stewards of the mani-
fold grace of God seek out these souls,
visit their homes, and through the power
of the Holy Spirit minister to their needs."
—Ibid.,
p. 234. "We are living in a time
when the last message of mercy, the last
invitation, is sounding to the children of
men. . . 'Come; for all things are now
ready.'
"—Ibid.,
p. 237.
9.
What two things about Jesus
amazed the woman at Jacob's well,
and what was the result? John 4:9, 19,
29, 30.
Nom:E.—That a Jew should address a
Samaritan, and a sinful woman at that,
was a manifestation of the outgoing grace
of Christ.
"The water that Christ referred to was
the revelation of His grace in His Word.
His Spirit, His teaching, is as a satisfying
fountain to every soul. . .
In Christ is
fullness of joy forevermore. . . . Christ's
gracious presence in His Word is ever
speaking to the soul, representing Him as
the well of living water to refresh the thirst-
ing."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bi-
ble Commentary,
Vol. 5, p. 1134.
The Initiative of Grace in
Seeking the Lost
10.
What reason was given by Je-
sus for going from Capernaum into
the neighboring country towns? Mark
1:38. Compare Luke 4:43.
NOTE.—"Whosoever shall receive Me, re-
ceiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me."
Mark 9:37. (See also Matt. 15:24, where
Jesus acknowledges His divine mission of
grace to "the house of Israel.")
"The virtues of repentance are gloriously
praised in the rabbinical literature, but
this direct search for, and appeal to, the
sinner, are new and moving notes of high
import and significance. The good shepherd
who searches for the lost sheep, and re-
claims it, and rejoices over it, is a new
figure."—Montefiore,
The Synoptic Gospels,
2nd ed., Vol. ii, p. 520, quoted in Moffatt,
Grace in the New Testament
(London:
Hodder and Stoughton, 1931), page 76.
11.
How did the disciples react
when Jesus told the rich young ruler
that more than a strict observance of
the law was involved in salvation, and
what did Jesus say in reply? Mark
10:24-27.
NoTE.—"Who then can be saved?" The
disciples were tainted with the prevalent
merit-religion ideas, reasoning that obedi-
ence, sacrifice, and service, apart from true
heart religion, could earn the kingdom. The
disciples had yet to find God's way of
granting the eternal life that the young
ruler wanted. The secret of the obedient
life is not mere human works, but Christ
within man's heart by grace through faith.
(See Gal. 2:20, 21.)
" 'This is the record, that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in His
Son. He that hath the Son hath life.' 1 John
5:11, 12. And Jesus said, 'I will raise him
up at the last day.' Christ became one
flesh with us, in order that we might be-
come one spirit with Him. It is by virtue
of this union that we are to come forth
from the grave—not merely as a mani-
festation of the power of Christ, but be-
cause, through faith, His life has become
ours."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 388.
12.
How late in His earthly life do
we find Jesus extending His saving
grace to seeking sinners? Luke 23:
39-43.
NOTE.—"He calls to mind all he has
heard of Jesus, how He has healed the sick
and pardoned sin. . . . The Holy Spirit
illuminates His mind, and little by little the
[ 13 ]
chain of evidence is joined together. . . .
'Lord, remember me,' he cries, 'when Thou
comest into Thy kingdom.'
"Quickly the answer came. Soft and
melodious the tone, full of love, compassion,
and power the words: Verily I say unto
thee today, Thou shalt be with me in
Paradise."-The
Desire of Ages,
page 750.
"All His life Christ had been publishing
to a fallen world the good news of the
Father's mercy and pardoning love."-
Ibid.,
p. 753.
Lesson 4, for April 26, 1969
Grace and the Cross of Calvary
MEMORY VERSE:
"That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to
comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph.
3:1 7-1 9.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," chapters 79, 81; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To gain a greater appreciation of the supreme outpouring of redeem-
ing grace in the gift of God's Son to die for our sins.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Central Act of the Cross
1.
The supreme act of divine love.
John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.
2.
The sanctification of the people.
Heb. 13:12.
3.
The universal interest. 1 Peter 1:12.
II. Grace Poured Out at the Cross
4.
Some gifts of grace. Rom. 1:5.
5.
More gifts of grace. Col. 1:20-22.
6.
Some deep experiences in grace.
Eph. 1:6, 7.
7.
The power of grace. Acts 4:33.
III. Divine Grace Meets Man's
Need at the Cross
8.
God's love commended. Rom. 5:6-8.
9.
God's finished work on the cross.
John 19:30.
10.
God's power in the resurrection
and its meaning. Rom. 1:4.
IV. Grace Triumphant
11.
The sole glory of the believer.
Gal. 6:14.
12.
The indwelling Christ.
Rom. 6:6; Phil. 1:21.
13.
The inexpressible love.
Eph. 3:14-21.
THE LESSON
Introduction
"It was the cross, that instrument of
shame and torture, which brought hope
and salvation to the world."-The
Acts of
the Apostles,
page 77.
The whole purpose of redeeming grace
throughout all time was, and is, the sal-
vation of mankind. This was the whole
purpose of the Godhead in the incarnation
of our Lord-the greatest outpouring of
divine grace: "He had still one other, a
beloved son; finally he sent him to them."
Mark 12:6, RSV. "But when the fullness
of time was come, God sent forth His
Son . . . to redeem them that were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons." Gal. 4:4. "For the Son of man
is come to seek and to save that which
was lost." Luke 19:10.
[ 14 ]
The Central Act of the Cross
1.
On what supreme act of redeem-
ing grace did God center His love?
John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.
NorE.—The word translated "believeth"
may be rendered "hath faith."
"The revelation of God's love to man
centers in the cross. Its full significance
tongue cannot utter, pen cannot portray,
the mind of man cannot comprehend.
Looking upon the cross of Calvary, we
can only say, 'God so loved the world,
that He gave His only-begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.' John 3:16.
"Christ crucified for our sins, Christ
risen form the dead, Christ ascended on
high, is the science of salvation that we are
to learn and to teach."—The
Ministry of
Healing,
pages 423, 424.
2.
What did Jesus accomplish by
suffering "without the gate"? Heb.
13:12. Compare John 3:16.
NOTE.—"Christ suffered without the gates
of Jerusalem, for Calvary was outside the
city walls. This was to show that He died,
not for the Hebrews alone, but for all
mankind. He proclaims to a fallen world
that He is their Redeemer, and urges them
to accept the salvation He offers."—Ellen
G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commen-
tary,
Vol. 7, p. 934.
3.
How deeply was the universe
interested in the cross of Calvary?
1 Peter 1:12.
NOTE.—"God's wonderful purpose of
grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is
the theme into which 'angels desire to
look,' and it will be their study throughout
endless ages. Both the redeemed and the
unfallen beings will find in the cross of
Christ their science and their song. It will
be seen that the glory shining in 'the face
of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love.
In the light from Calvary it will be seen
that the law of self-renouncing love is the
law of life for earth and heaven; that the
love which `seeketh not her own' has its
source in the heart of God; and that in the
meek and lowly One is manifested the
character of Him who dwelleth in the light
which no man can approach unto."—The
Desire of Ages,
pages 19, 20.
Grace Poured Out at the Cross
4.
What did the apostle Paul claim
to have received through Jesus Christ?
Rom. 1:5.
NOTE.—"Grace and apostleship to bring
about the obedience of faith among all the
Gentiles."—New
American Standard Bible.
"He [Paul] often thus links the word
`grace'
with his great mission; for example,
in Gal. ii.9, Eph. iii.2, 8, and perhaps Phil.
i.7. Alike the enabling peace and power for
service, and then the service itself, are to
the Christian a free, loving, .beautifying
gift."—Handley C. G. Moule,
The Epistle
to the Romans
(London: Pickering & In-
glis), page 18.
The fact that the ex-Pharisee here in-
cludes "all the nations" as objects of God's
grace is striking evidence of his own re-
demption by grace.
5.
What two blessings come through
the blood of Christ on the cross?
Col. 1:20-22.
NOTE.—By faith we are justified and
enjoy "peace with God 'through our Lord
Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.
"Without the cross, man could have no
connection with the Father. On it hangs
our every hope. In view of it the Chris-
tian may advance with the steps of a
conqueror; for from it streams the light of
the Saviour's love."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 5,
p. 1133.
"Through the merits of Christ he [man]
can be restored to harmony with his
Maker. His heart must be renewed by di-
vine grace; he must have a new life from
above."—The
Great Controversy,
page 467.
6.
What do we receive through
God's grace? Eph. 1:6, 7.
[ 15 ]
NOTE.—"As a result of the revelation of
God's grace in the adoption, the universe
will gain a true conception of the character
and purposes of God and respond with
expressions of praise. . . .
"The abundance and fullness of God's
grace is a prominent theme in this epistle,
and is presented as a prime cause for con-
fidence and hope."—SDA
Bible Commen-
tary,
on Eph. 1:6.
7.
What accompanied the powerful
testimonies of the apostles to the vic-
tory of the cross? Acts 4:33.
Nom.—"The glad tidings of a risen
Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts
of the inhabited world. As the disciples
proclaimed the message of redeeming grace,
hearts yielded to the power of this mes-
sage The church beheld converts flocking to
her from all directions."—The
Acts of the
Apostles,
page 48.
Divine Grace Meets Man's
Need at the Cross
8.
How was God's love commended
to sinners? Rom. 5:6-8.
NoTE.—"God rejoices to bestow His
grace upon us, not because we are worthy,
but because we are so utterly unworthy.
Our only claim to His mercy is our great
need.
"The Lord God through Jesus Christ
holds out His hand all the day long in
invitation to the sinful and fallen. He will
receive all. He welcomes all. It is His glory
to pardon the chief of sinners. He will take
the prey from the mighty, He will deliver
the captive, He will pluck the brand from
the burning. He will lower the golden
chain of His mercy to the lowest depths
of human wretchedness, and lift up the
debased soul contaminated with
sin."—The
Ministry of Healing,
page 161.
9.
What climactic words did Jesus
utter upon the cross? John 19:30.
NoTE.—"When Christ spoke these words,
He addressed His Father. Christ was not
alone in making this great sacrifice. It was
the fulfillment of the covenant made be-
tween the Father and the Son before the
foundation of the earth was laid. . . . The
compact was now being fully consummated.
The climax was reached. Christ had the
consciousness that He had fulfilled to the
letter the pledge He had made. In death
He was more than conqueror. The redemp-
tion price has been paid."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
5, p. 1149.
"When Christ cried out, 'It is finished,'
all heaven triumphed. The controversy be-
tween Christ and Satan in regard to the
execution of the plan of salvation was
ended."—Ibid.
"When Christ cried, 'It is finished,' God's
unseen hand rent the strong fabric compos-
ing the veil of the temple from top to
bottom. . . . He looked upon the victim
expiring on the cross, and said, 'It is fin-
ished. The human race shall have another
trial.' The redemption price was paid, and
Satan fell like lightning from heaven."—
Ibid.,
p. 1150.
10.
By His resurrection from the
dead, what was Jesus declared to be?
Rom. 1:4.
NoTE.—"At the death of Jesus the sol-
diers had beheld the earth wrapped in
darkness at midday; but at the resurrection
they saw the brightness of the angels il-
luminate the night, and heard the inhabi-
tants of heaven singing with great joy
and triumph: Thou hast vanquished Satan
and the powers of darkness; thou hast
swallowed up death in victory
!"—The De-
sire of Ages,
page 780.
Grace Triumphant
11.
In what alone did Paul glory
and why? Gal. 6:14.
NoTE.—"The death of Christ on the
cross of Calvary is our only hope in this
world, and it will be our theme in the
world to come. Oh, we do not comprehend
the value of the atonement! If we did, we
would talk more about it."—Ellen G.
White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 5, p. 1132.
[ 16
12. What happens in the sinner's
life when he accepts by faith Christ's
atonement on the cross for his sins?
Rom. 6:6; Phil. 1:21.
NOTE.
"Our
old man is crucified with
Him." "For to me to live is Christ."
"This is the most perfect interpretation
in a few words, in all the Scriptures, of
what it means to be a Christian. This is
the whole truth of the gospel."—Ellen G.
White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 903.
The expression "for me to live is Christ"
shows the intensely personal experience
which God's grace brought to Paul. In
Colossians 3:4 he speaks of "Christ, who
is
our life."
In Colossians 1:27 he speaks
of "Christ in you, the hope of glory," and
in Romans 8:10 he states that "if Christ
be in you, . . . the spirit is life because of
righteousness."
13. Into what inexpressible experi-
ence in divine love is the believer led
through the indwelling Christ? Eph.
3:14-21.
Lesson 5, for May 3, 1969
Paul's Teachings of Redeeming Grace
MEMORY VERSE:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your-
selves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2.8.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Acts of the Apostles," chapters 24, 25; "SDA Bible Commen-
tary."
STUDY AIM:
To seek to understand the doctrine of grace as set forth in the teach-
ings and writings of :he apostle Paul, and to see how this great apostle
experienced redemptive grace in his own life.
Introduction
"We may see the position that grace
held in the mind of Paul, when we see
that every single letter that Paul ever wrote
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. Grace and the Way of Salvation
1.
Grace in Paul's benedictions.
Gal. 6:18; Phil. 4:23 ; Col. 4:18.
2.
Divine initiative. Eph. 2:8, 9.
3.
Divine sufficiency. 2 Cor. 9:14;
12:9; Eph. 2:7.
II. Grace Versus Human Merit
4.
Opposing factors. Rom. 11:6.
5.
Self-surrender. Gal. 2:20.
6. Justification. Titus 3:5-7;
Rom. 5:9, 18, 19; 1 Cor. 6:11.
III. Grace and God's Will for the
Believer
7. God's grace and God's will.
Gal. 1:15, 16; 2 Cor. 1:1.
8. Grace in operation. Eph. 3:7-9.
9. Glory of Christ's grace.
1 Cor. 15:10, 11.
IV. Grace Fortifies the Believer
10. Abounding grace. Rom. 5:20, 21.
11. Unending encouragement.
2 Thess. 2:16.
12. Divine assurance. 2 Cor. 12:9.
THE LESSON
begins and ends with grace."—William Bar-
clay,
The Mind of St. Paul
(London: Col-
lins, 1958), page 157.
"When the apostle sought to transmit
`the light of the knowledge of the glory of
[17]
God in the face of Jesus Christ,' which had
dawned upon himself outside Damascus,
his good news may be described as a mes-
sage or proclamation announcing that 'All
is of grace, and grace is for all.' "—James
Moffatt,
Grace in the New Testament
(Lon-
don: Hodder and Stoughton, 1931), page
131.
"We owe everything to grace, free grace,
sovereign grace. Grace in the covenant
ordained our adoption. Grace in the Sav-
iour effected our redemption, our regen-
eration, and our adoption to heirship with
Christ. Let this grace be revealed to
others."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 268.
Grace and the Way of Salvation
1.
What is a frequently recurring
theme at the close of Paul's letters?
Gal. 6:18; Phil. 4:23; Col. 4:18.
NOTE.—"The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ," and similar phrases, immediately
connects grace with the divine Son. Other
phrases connect grace with "God the Fa-
ther." Gal. 1:3.
"This phrase [`the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ'] attaches the idea of grace
to the central doctrine of our faith, round
which the whole content of our belief is
grouped; and it thereby indicates that, if
we would know what grace is, we must
consider the nature of God and the nature
of man, the character of the situation in
which the incarnation of the Son of God
and His atoning death upon the cross be-
came necessary, the significance of His
death and resurrection and the result which
was achieved by them, and the divine
provision by which that act of God con-
tinues to be applied and extended."—
Oscar Hardman,
The Christian Doctrine of
Grace
(New York: The Macmillan Com-
pany, 1947), page 26.
2.
In what words does Paul con-
nect the grace of God with man's
faith as the only way of salvation?
Eph. 2:8, 9.
NOTE.—"God's people must have that
faith which will lay hold of divine power;
`for by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God.'
"—Gospel Workers,
page 161.
"Faith is the gift of God, but the power
to exercise it is ours. Faith is the hand by
which the soul takes hold upon the divine
offers of grace and
mercy."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 431.
3.
In what words is saving grace
described? 2 Cor. 9:14; 12:9; Eph.
2:7.
NoTE.—These and other expressions in
Paul's letters give a superlative conception
of God's outgoing love and grace to save
the sinner and establish the saint in holi-
ness.
The word
charis
appears about 150 times
in the New Testament. It is translated
"grace" 129 times in the KJV and of this
number Paul uses it 101 times; hence he is
often called "the apostle of grace."
Grace Versus Human Merit
4.
How did Paul show that the sal-
vation of the remnant of Israel was
by grace and not by works? Rom.
11:6.
NOTE.—"Our own works can never pur-
chase salvation."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
280.
"Without the grace of Christ every soul
would have been bankrupt for eternity;
therefore we can rightfully claim nothing.
But while we can claim nothing, yet when
we are faithful stewards, the Lord rewards
us as if the merit were all our own."—
Tetimonies to Ministers,
page 166.
"We can never be saved by works; but
if our salvation does not issue in works, it
is not salvation. It is not first works, and
then salvation. It is first salvation, and
then works. We do not become saved by
keeping the Law; we can only keep the
Law because we are saved. All is of love,
and a man cannot accept God's grace, and
then go on to break the heart of God who
loved him so much."—William Barclay,
The Mind of St. Paul
(London: Collins,
1958), page 171.
5.
How is the life of the Christian
believer described? Gal. 2:20.
[18]
NOTE.—"Everything good in men and
women is the fruit of the working of the
Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us to reveal
righteousness in our lives. The greatest
work that can be done in our world is to
glorify God by living the character of
Christ. God will make perfect only those
who will die to self. Those who are willing
to do this can say, 'I live ; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me.' "—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 6,
p. 1109.
Man has nothing to contribute to his re-
demption except the sin from which he
needs to be saved. When he confesses his
sins, he is forgiven and justified, and
Christ's righteousness is imputed to him.
The Holy Spirit then enters the life, and
man is thus enabled to perform good works
to God's glory.
6.
What grounds of justification
are mentioned by Paul? Titus 3:5-7;
Rom. 5:9, 18, 19; 1 Cor. 6:11.
Grace and God's Will for
the Believer
7.
In what way did Paul acknowl-
edge God's gracious will for his life?
Gal. 1:15, 16; 2 Cor. 1:1.
NoTE.—Both God's grace and God's will
are here said to have made him an apostle.
"These two sayings equate God's grace
and God's will. In other words, the grace
of God is the will of God in action on the
lives of men."—William Barclay,
The Mind
of St. Paul,
page 167.
"Paul briefly reviewed the leading inci-
dents connected with his own conversion
and early Christian experience. By this
means he sought to show that it was
through a special manifestation of divine
power that he had been led to see and
grasp the great truths of the gospel. It was
through instruction received from God
Himself that Paul was led to warn and
admonish the Galatians in so solemn and
positive a manner."—The
Acts of the
Apostles,
page 386.
8.
Into what kind of service did
the gift of God's grace lead Paul?
Eph. 3:7-9.
NOTE.—"He [Paul] claimed no wisdom
of his own, but acknowledged that divine
power alone had enabled him to present
the truth in a manner pleasing to God.
United with Christ, the greatest of all
teachers, Paul had been enabled to com-
municate lessons of divine wisdom, which
met the necessities of all classes, and which
were to apply at all times, in all places,
and under all conditions."—The
Acts of the
Apostles,
page 303.
9.
To what did Paul attribute his
accomplishments? 1 Cor. 15:10, 11.
NOTE.—"He had learned the essential
lesson that all human accomplishments are
valueless in the work of God if separated
from an impartation to the soul of that
spiritual life from God that is called
`grace.' Paul knew that all his zeal, piety,
abilities, and success as an apostle were the
result of the undeserved favor God had
manifested toward
him."—SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
on 1 Cor. 15:10.
It should be noted that while in 1 Cor.
15:10 Paul gives the glory of his achieve-
ments to the grace of God, in Gal. 2:20 he
attributes the fruitfulness of his life to
Christ. In Paul's mind Christ was the
greatest manifestation of the grace of God.
Grace Fortifies the Believer
10.
Where sin increased, what did
grace do? Rom. 5:20, 21.
NOTE.—"Through the love of God the
treasures of the grace of Christ have been
laid open before the church and the world.
`God so loved the world, that He gave
His only-begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.' What marvelous, un-
fathomable love, which led Christ to die
for us while we were yet sinners ! And
what a loss the soul suffers who, under-
standing the strong claims of the law, fails
to acknowledge that where sin abounds, the
grace of Christ does much more abound!"
—Gospel Workers,
page 157.
11.
What blessings come to the be-
liever through divine grace? 2 Thess.
2:16.
[ 19 ]
NOTE.—"Who has loved us and given us
unending encouragement and unfailing hope
by His grace." 2 Thess. 2:16, Phillips.
"The Thessalonian believers had hoped
for immediate deliverance; now they were
admonished to take up bravely and in 'the
fear of God the work before them. The
apostle charged them not to neglect their
duties or resign themselves to idle waiting.
After their glowing anticipations of im-
mediate deliverance the round of daily life
and the opposition that they must meet
would appear doubly forbidding. He there-
fore exhorted them to steadfastness in the
faith :
" 'Stand fast, and hold the traditions
which ye have been taught, whether by
word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus
Christ Himself, and God, even our Father,
which hath loved us, and hath given us
everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace, comfort your hearts, and
stablish you in every good word and
work.'
"—The Acts of the Apostles,
pages
266, 267.
12. What memorable words of Paul,
based on personal experience, assure
the believer that God's grace makes
him equal to every occasion? 2 Cor.
12:9.
NOTE.—"The Lord has shown me that
His grace is sufficient for all our trials;
and although they are greater than ever
before, yet if we trust wholly in God,
we can overcome every temptation and
through His grace come off victorious."
—Early Writings,
page 46.
Lesson 6, for May 10, 1969
Justification by Faith Through Grace
MEMORY VERSE:
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that
is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Acts of the Apostles," chapter 35; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To seek to understand the relation between grace and justification
by faith.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. Man's Hopeless Condition in Sin
1.
A common heritage. Rom. 5:12.
2.
A complete impotence.
Rom. 3:20-26; 7:19, 20.
3.
A free antidote. Rom. 5:20.
4.
A way out. 1 Cor. 15:34.
II. Man's Hope in Christ's
Righteousness
5. Exchanging man's righteousness
for Christ's. Phil. 3:8-10.
6.
Saving righteousness for all men
in all times. Heb. 11:4;
Gen. 7:1; Rom. 4:3.
7.
Surrendering to Christ. 1 John 1:9.
8.
Advancing with Christ. Rom.
4:3-8.
III. Man's Assurance of Victorious Life
9.
A new experience.
Gal. 2:20, 21.
10.
A free gift. John 1:12.
11.
A new life and a blessed hope.
Titus 3:5-7.
12.
A consequence of faith and grace.
James 2:20-24.
[ 20 ]
THE LESSON
3. By what means does God make
sin in the life evident to man? Rom.
5:20.
Introduction
"With great clearness and power the
apostle [Paul writing to the Romans]
presented the doctrine of justification by
faith in Christ. . . . Through all the ages
the great truth of justification by faith
has stood as a mighty beacon to guide
repentant sinners into the way of life."—
The Acts of the Apostles,
page 373.
The message of justification by faith "'is
the third angel's message in verity.'
"—
Evangelism,
page 190.
"Many had lost sight of Jesus. They
needed to have their eyes directed to His
divine person, His merits, and His change-
less love for the human family. All power
is given into His hands, that He may
dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting
the priceless gift of His own righteousness
to the helpless human agent. This is the
message that God commanded to be given
to the world. It is the third angel's mes-
sage, which is to be proclaimed with a
loud voice, and attended with the outpour-
ing of His Spirit in a large measure."—
Testimonies to Ministers,
page 92.
Man's Hopeless Condition in Sin
1.
What one thing is common to
all men through our father Adam?
Rom. 5:12. Compare verse 19.
NoTE.—Sin is lawlessness, which en-
thrones self and ignores God. Its results
are ruinous, for it destroys the real man.
2.
How completely does sin render
a man impotent to carry out any good
intentions? Rom. 3:20-26; 7:19, 20.
Compare Eph. 4:22-24.
NoTE.—"It is the effect of sin to deaden
the moral perceptions, so that the wrong-
doer does not realize the enormity of
transgression, and without the convicting
power of the Holy Spirit he remains in
partial blindness to his
sin."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 361.
NOTE.—A knowledge of the moral law
was in man's heart at creation, but at
Sinai the law became a written code for
human conduct, and sin became more
clearly revealed. The more sin became ap-
parent to the sinner, the more God's grace
abounded toward him.
"When the law is presented as it should
be, it reveals the love of
God."—Gospel
Workers,
page 157.
4.
What should men do while for-
saking sin? 1 Cor. 15:34.
NOTE.—"Sinful man can find hope and
righteousness only in
God."—Testimonies
to Ministers,
page 367.
Man's Hope in Christ's
Righteousness
5.
How did Paul find the righteous-
ness of Christ? Phil. 3:8-10.
NoTE.—"The righteousness that before
he [Paul] had thought worth so much was
now worthless in his sight. His own righ-
teousness was unrighteousness. The deep
longing of his soul was, 'That I may
know Him, and the power of His resur-
rection, and the fellowship of His suffer-
ings, being made conformable unto His
death.'
"He would know for himself the power
of the Saviour's grace. He trusted in His
power to save even him, who had perse-
cuted the church of Christ. In his estima-
tion no treasure could equal the value of
the gift of the knowledge of Christ."—El-
len G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
Vol. 7, page 905.
"The proud heart strives to earn sal-
vation; but both our title to heaven and
our fitness for it are found in the righ-
teousness of Christ."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
300.
21
6.
What shows that saving righ-
teousness was available to men in Old
Testament times? Heb. 11:4; Gen. 7:1;
Rom. 4:3.
Nom—Others in both Old and New
Testaments could be listed, such as Lot
(2 Peter 2:7) ; Zacharias and Elisabeth
(Luke 1:5, 6). The Gentiles who accepted
Paul's preaching attained to righteousness
through faith. Rom. 9:30; 6:17-22.
"It is through faith in the blood of
Christ that all the sins of the believer are
canceled and the righteousness of God is
put in their place to the believer's account.
0, what a marvelous transaction! What a
manifestation of divine love and grace!
Here is a man born in sin. As Paul says,
he is 'filled with all unrighteousness.' His
inheritance of evil is the worst imaginable.
His environment is at the lowest depths
known to the wicked. In some way the
love of God shining from the cross of
Calvary reaches that man's heart. He
yields, repents, confesses, and by faith
claims Christ as his Saviour. The instant
that is done, he is accepted as a child of
God. His sins are all forgiven, his guilt
is canceled, he is accounted righteous, and
stands approved, justified, before the di-
vine law. And this amazing, miraculous
change may take place in one short hour.
This is righteousness by faith."—A.
G.
Daniells,
Christ Our Righteousness,
1926
edition, pages 22, 23.
7.
What does God require the sin-
ner to do, and what becomes of his
sins? 1 John 1:9. Compare Isa. 55:7.
NOTE.—Confession, forgiveness, cleans-
ing bring the erstwhile guilty sinner a new
status before God. He is now justified, and
enters upon a daily experience of sur-
render and sanctification.
"We must learn in the school of Christ.
Nothing but His righteousness can entitle
us to one of the blessings of the covenant
of grace. . . . We must not think that our
own grace and merits will save us; the
grace of Christ is our only hope of sal-
vation."—Selected Messages,
Bk. 1, p. 351.
8.
What do the experiences of
Abraham and David teach us regard-
ing God's grace and righteousness in
the lives of the faithful? Rom. 4:3-8.
NOTE.-"By faith he [the sinned can
bring to God the merits of Christ, and
the Lord places the obedience of His Son
to the sinner's account. Christ's righteous-
ness is accepted in place of man's failure,
and God receives, pardons, justifies, the
repentant, believing soul, treats him as
though he were righteous, and loves him
as He loves His Son. This is how faith is
accounted righteousness; and the pardoned
soul goes on from grace to grace, from
light to a greater
light."—Selected Mes-
sages,
Bk. 1, p. 367.
"It is quite clear that there is no word
so near the center of Paul's belief as the
word faith. We have only to read his
letters to see that for Paul the word faith
sums up the very essence of Christian-
ity....
"It is of primary importance to note
that for Paul faith is always faith in a
person. Faith is not the intellectual ac-
ceptance of a body of doctrine ; faith is
faith in a person."—William Barclay,
The
Mind of St. Paul
(London: Collins, 1958),
page 133.
Man's Assurance of Victorious Life
9.
How does Paul show that God's
grace provided righteousness for be-
lieving men, not as a matter of law,
but as a living experience with Christ?
Gal.
2:20, 21.
NoTE.—The doctrine of the indwelling
Christ becomes a living experience to the
believer, and it is perceptible to others
who see the results in a sanctified life.
Thus the works of Christ are seen in the
life of the man of faith. James 2:20-24.
"While we cannot do anything to change
our hearts or to bring ourselves into har-
mony with God; while we must not trust
at all to ourselves or our good works, our
lives will reveal whether the grace of God
is dwelling within us. A change will be
seen in the character, the habits, the pur-
suits."—Steps
to Christ,
page 57.
10.
To whom did Jesus extend the
privilege of becoming sons of God?
John 1:12.
[ 221
11.
When he is justified by grace
through faith, to what does the be-
liever become heir? Titus 3:5-7. Com-
pare Titus 2:11-13.
12.
What is said concerning the
importance of Christian works in the
victorious lives of the faithful? James
2:20-24.
NOTE.
-"In
order to meet the require-
ments of the law, our faith must grasp
the righteousness of Christ, accepting it
as our righteousness. Through union with
Christ, through acceptance of His righ-
teousness by faith, we may be qualified
to work the works of God, to be colabor-
ers with Christ. . . . Faith works by love
and purifies the soul. Through faith the
Holy Spirit works in the heart to create
holiness therein; but this cannot be done
unless the human agent will work with
Christ. We can be fitted for heaven only
through the work of the Holy Spirit upon
the heart; for we must have Christ's righ-
teousness as our credentials if we would
find access to the Father. In order that
we may have the righteousness of Christ,
we need daily to be transformed by the
influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of
the divine nature. It is the work of the
Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify
the heart, to ennoble the whole man."-
Selected Messages,
Bk. 1, p. 374.
Lesson 7, for May 17, 1969
Grace and the Sanctified Life
MEMORY VERSE:
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God
your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Great Controversy," pages 469-478 (last half of chapter 27);
"SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To gain help in living a life of holiness through faith and by God's
grace.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. God's Will for the Believer
1.
To be sanctified. 1 Thess. 4:3.
2.
To live in holiness preparing to
see God. Heb. 12:14.
3.
To be blameless when Jesus comes.
1 Thess. 5:23.
II. Christ's Purpose for His Church
4.
Cleansed and sanctified.
Eph. 5:25, 26.
5.
Enlightened, forgiven, sanctified
by faith. Acts 26:18.
6.
Holy, spotless, glorious.
Eph. 5:27.
III. A Purified People
7. Saved through sanctification of
the Spirit. 2 Thess. 2:13.
8. Sanctified vessels of honor.
2 Tim. 2:21.
9. Washed, sanctified, justified.
1 Cor. 6:11.
IV. A People Renewed in the
Image of Christ
10. Changed by beholding.
2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:1, 2.
11. Putting on the new man.
Eph. 4:24.
12. Sanctified with Him.
John 17:15-17.
23
THE LESSON
2. How vital to each believer is
the experience of sanctification? Heb.
12:14.
Introduction
Sanctification is God's purpose in call-
ing men by the gospel. It is an experience
which must be learned from God through
His Word. John 17:17. It cannot be pur-
chased or obtained vicariously. Each be-
liever should diligently seek the goal of
complete sanctification. See Heb. 12:14.
"God has chosen men from eternity to
be holy. 'This is the will of God, even
your sanctification.' God's law tolerates
no sin, but demands perfect obedience.
The echo of God's voice comes to us,
ever saying, Holier, holier still. And ever
our answer is to be, Yes, Lord, holier still.
Holiness is within the reach of all who
reach for it by faith, not because of their
good works, but because of Christ's mer-
its. Divine power is provided for every
soul struggling for the victory over sin
and Satan.
"Justification means the saving of a
soul from perdition, that he may obtain
sanctification, and through sanctification,
the life of heaven. Justification means that
the conscience, purged from dead works,
is placed where it can receive the blessings
of sanctification."—Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 7,
p. 908.
God's Will for the Believer
1. How is God's will for the be-
liever expressed by Paul? 1 Thess. 4:3.
NOTE.—"The psalmist says 'Thy law is
the truth.' By the Word and the Spirit of
God are opened to men the great princi-
ples of righteousness embodied in His law.
And since the law of God is 'holy, and
just, and good,' a transcript of the divine
perfection, it follows that a character
formed by obedience to that law will be
holy. Christ is a perfect example of such
a character. He says: 'I have kept My Fa-
ther's commandments.' I do always those
things that please Him.' John 15:10; 8:29.
The followers of Christ are to become like
Him—by the grace of God to form char-
acters in harmony with the principles of
His holy law. This is Bible sanctification."
—The Great Controversy,
page 469.
Nom—The word "holiness" here is from
the Greek
hagiasmos,
which in 1
.
Thess.
4:3 and elsewhere is translated "sancti-
fication."
"Holiness is wholeness to God. The soul
is surrendered to God. The will, and even
the thoughts, are brought into subjection
to the will of Christ. The love of Jesus
fills the soul, and is constantly going out
in a clear, refreshing stream, to make glad
the hearts of others."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
6, p. 1076.
3. In what words does Paul express
the necessity for complete sanctifica-
tion, and for how long? 1 Thess. 5:23.
NoTE.—"The truth must sanctify the
whole man—his mind, his thoughts, his
heart, his strength. His vital powers will
not be consumed upon his own lustful
practices. These must be overcome, or they
will overcome him."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
7, p. 909.
Christ's Purpose for His Church
4. To what extent did Christ love
His church and for what purpose?
Eph. 5:25, 26.
NOTE.—"The church is God's appointed
agency for the salvation of men. It was
organized for service, and its mission is
to carry the gospel to the world. From the
beginning it has been God's plan that
through His church shall be reflected to
the world His fullness and His sufficiency.
The members of the church, those whom
He has called out of darkness into His
marvelous light, are to show forth His
glory. The church is the repository of the
riches of the grace of Christ; and through
the church will eventually be made mani-
fest, even to 'the principalities and powers
[
24]
in heavenly places,' the final and full dis-
play of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10."
—The Acts of the Apostles,
page 9.
5.
By what are men sanctified? Acts
26:18. Compare John 17:17; Rom.
10:17.
Narz.—"Paul often mentions sanctifica-
tion, the process of character transforma-
tion through which the saints must go.
To instantaneous freedom from the guilt
of sin, through justification, . . . it adds a
repeated and continuous dedication of the
mind and the life to the goal of perfection
in Christ. It is the 'work . . . of a lifetime'
(see AA 560-562). . . . As all Christians
must, Paul was experiencing a continuing
dedication, proceeding from victory to vic-
tory in Christ (Phil. 3:12-14)."—SDA
Bi-
ble Commentary,
on Acts 26:18.
6.
What kind of church does our
Lord desire to be with Him in glory?
Eph. 5:27.
NoTE.—"The Lord could carry forward
His work without our cooperation. He is
not dependent on us for our money, our
time, or our labor. But the church is very
precious in His sight. It is the case which
contains His jewels, the fold which en-
closes His flock, and He longs to see it
without spot or blemish or any such thing.
He yearns after it with unspeakable love."
—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 261.
A Purified P'ople
7.
Through what two ways has God
purposed to bring about man's sal-
vation? 2 Thess. 2:13.
NoTE.—Paul and Peter exhort believers
to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18.
"The work of transformation from un-
holiness to holiness is a continuous one.
Day by day God labors for man's sancti-
fication, and man is to cooperate with
Him, putting forth persevering efforts in
the cultivation of right habits. He is to
add grace to grace; and as he thus works
on the plan of addition, God works for
him on the plan of multiplication. Our
Saviour is always ready to hear and an-
swer the prayer of the contrite heart, and
grace and peace are multiplied to His
faithful ones."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 532.
8.
What kind of vessels should
Christians be in order to be fit for
the Lord's service? 2 Tim. 2:21.
NorE.—"The work of purification is an
individual work. No one can do this work
for another. 'If a man therefore purge
himself
from these, he shall be a vessel
unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the
Master's use.' The Spirit of God will work
through sanctified human agencies, lead-
ing them to work aright. Ability and grace
will be provided. Men will be filled with
an earnest desire to preach the truths of
the gospel, firmly, decidedly, and in a clear
manner."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
7,
p. 918.
9.
By what process had the Corin-
thian believers become saints? 1 Cor.
6:11. Compare 1 Cor. 1:2.
NOTE.—"Christ gave Himself for us, to
redeem us from all iniquity, that He
might purify unto Himself a peculiar peo-
ple, zealous of good works. His church
must be kept free from all false doctrine."
—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible
Commentary,
Vol. 6, p. 1083.
A People Renewed in the
Image of Christ
10.
How
r•
.
re
men changed into the
image of Christ? 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom.
12:1, 2.
NoTE.—"The sanctification of the soul
is accomplished through steadfastly be-
holding Him [Christ] by faith as the only-
begotten Son of God, full of grace and
truth. The power of truth is to transform
heart and character. . . . A new nature is
[25]
imparted. Man is renewed after the image
of Christ in righteousness and true holi-
ness. . . . The character is to be full of
grace and truth."-Ellen G. White Com-
ments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 6,
p. 1117.
11. How does Paul describe the new
nature? Eph. 4:24. Compare verses
25-32.
NorE.-"No
man receives holiness as a
birthright, or as a gift from any other
human being. Holiness is the gift of God
through Christ. Those who receive the
Saviour become sons of God. . . .
"Accepting Christ as a personal Saviour,
and following His example of self-denial
-this is the secret of holiness."-Ellen G.
White Comments,
SDA Bible Commen-
tary,
Vol. 6, p. 1117.
12. What special petition did Christ
offer for His disciples? What did He
say of citizenship in this world? John
17:15-17.
NorE.-"The sanctification of the soul
by the working of the Holy Spirit is the
implanting of Christ's nature in humanity.
Gospel religion is Christ in the life-a
living, active principle. It is the grace of
Christ revealed in character and wrought
out in good
works."-Christ's Object Les-
sons,
page 384.
Lesson 8, for May 24, 1969
Redeeming Grace and the Law
MEMORY VERSE:
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24.
STUDY HELPS:
"Christ's Object Lessons," chapter, "The Reward of Grace"; "SDA
Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To gain a better understanding of the relation between grace and
law and the place each has in the gospel of our salvation.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Function of Law
1.
The purpose of God through law.
Rom. 3:20.
2.
The work of Christ for all men's
sins. John 1:29.
3.
The power of God for believers.
Rom. 1:16; Titus 2:11-14.
II. The Operation of Sin, Law,
and Grace
4.
Christ came to obey His Father's
revealed will. Ps. 40:7, 8; Isa.
42:21.
5.
Christ related obedience to love
in believers. Matt. 5:17, 18;
John 15:10.
6.
Grace and glory displayed in con-
quest of sin. Rom. 5:20, 21.
III. The Obedient Life and
Salvation by Grace
7.
Law does not give righteousness.
Gal. 2:21.
8.
The grace of God versus human
works. Gal. 5:4; Rom. 4:4; 11:6.
9.
Faith does not undermine law.
Rom. 3:31.
IV. The Controlled Life of Service
10.
The liberty and obedience of the
believer saved by grace.
Gal. 5:13, 14; 6:2.
11.
The victorious life not a passive
experience. Gal. 5:16, 25.
12.
The essential personal experience
of saving grace. Matt. 25:6-9 ;
John 3:3, 6.
[26
7
THE LESSON
the knowledge of sin'; 'and not until man
is convicted of sin, will he truly feel his
need of the atoning blood of Christ.' . . .
"While preaching the gospel of the grace
of God, Wesley, like his Master, sought to
`magnify the law, and make it honorable.' "
—The Great Controversy,
page 264.
2. Whereas law, both ceremonial
and moral, revealed sin without re-
moving it, what does Christ do with
the sins of the world? John 1:29.
Compare Matt. 1:21.
Introduction
One of the most important ideas in the
Old Testament is that of law, but it ap-
pears in various forms in many terms, not
all meaning exactly the same thing. Psalm
119 provides examples of these differences,
for there we read of commandments, ordi-
nances, law, word, statutes, judgments, pre-
cepts, ways, testimonies. Obviously the Ten
Commandments are not specifically in-
tended by all these words, nor are they
always intended by the word "law" in the
English New Testament.
Torah
is the most characteristic of the
Old Testament words conveying the idea
of law, and its usual meaning is to in-
struct, to teach, as when a superior au-
thority passes on a rule of conduct or
service.
Jesus places grace, faith, law, obedience
in a context which requires repentance
from sin ; and He presented salvation by
faith through grace, which results in obe-
dience to God's requirements, rather than
obedience to law as the title to salvation.
Speaking of the commandments, Ellen
G. White says:
"Christ does not lessen the claims of the
law. In unmistakable language He pre-
sents obedience to it as the condition of
eternal life—the same condition that was
required of Adam before his fall. The Lord
expects no less of the soul now than He
expected of man in Paradise, perfect obe-
dience, unblemished righteousness. The re-
quirement under the covenant of grace is
just as broad as the requirement made in
Eden—harmony with God's law, which is
holy, just, and
good."—Christ's Object
Lessons,
page 391.
The Function of Law
1. What was the great purpose of
the revealed commands of God?
Rom. 3:20.
NOTE.—"To those who urged that 'the
preaching of the gospel answers all the
ends of the law,' Wesley replied: 'This we
utterly deny. It does not answer the very
first end of the law, namely, the convinc-
ing men of sin, the awakening those who
are still asleep on the brink of hell.' The
apostle Paul declares that 'by the law is
NOTE.—"Through faith we receive the
grace of God; but faith is not our Sav-
iour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by
which we lay hold upon Christ, and ap-
propriate His merits, the remedy for sin.
And we cannot even repent without the
aid of the Spirit of God. The Scripture
says of Christ, 'Him hath God exalted with
His right hand to be a Prince and a Sav-
iour, for to give repentance to Israel, and
forgiveness of sins.' Acts 5:31. Repentence
comes from Christ as truly as does par-
don."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 175.
3.
What does the gospel become to
those who believe? Rom. 1:16; Titus
2:11-14.
NOTE.—"The gospel is the power of God
and the wisdom of
God."—Selected Mes-
sages,
Bk. 1, p. 245.
The Operation of Sin, Law,
and Grace
4.
How did prophecy foretell
Christ's attitude to the righteous prin-
ciples embodied in God's law? Ps. 40:
7, 8; Isa. 42:21.
NoTE.—"[Ps. 40:8 quoted.] As He went
about doing good, and healing all who
were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to
men the character of God's law and the
nature of His service. His life testifies that
[ 27 ]
it is possible for us also to obey the law
of God."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 24.
"Obedience to the revealed will of God
always promotes righteousness, happiness,
and peace among men. In His Sermon on
the Mount, Christ magnified the law by
applying its principles to the motives of
the heart as well as to the outward acts."
—SDA Bible Commentary,
on Isa. 42:21.
5.
How explicitly did our Lord
teach that He had not come to destroy
the law? What connection did He
make between obedience and love in
His followers? Matt. 5:17, 18; John
15:10.
NorE.—"The law" in Matt. 5:17 comes
from the Greek word
nomos,
the New
Testament equivalent of the Hebrew
torah,
which comprehends all divine teachings.
The expression "the law and the proph-
ets" was used to describe the whole of the
Old Testament.
"It was because of His great reverence
for the law and the prophets that He
sought to break through the wall of tra-
ditional requirements which hemmed in
the Jews. While He set aside their false
interpretations of the law, He carefully
guarded His disciples against yielding up
the vital truths committed to the He-
brews.. ..
"God has given us His holy precepts,
because He loves mankind. To shield us
from the results of transgression, He re-
veals the principles of righteousness. The
law is an expression of the thought of God ;
when received in Christ, it becomes our
thought. It lifts us above the power of
natural desires and tendencies, above temp-
tations that lead to sin. God desires us to
be happy, and He gave us the precepts of
the law that in obeying them we might
have
joy."—The Desire of Ages,
pages 307,
308.
This comment and the contextual setting
of Matthew 5:17 indicate that Christ's pri-
mary concern was with the moral law.
6.
In what words are the entrance
of law, the prevalence of sin, and the
abundance of grace set before us?
With what is the reign of grace con-
nected? Rom. 5:20, 21.
NOTE.—"Law came in [intruded, NEB],
to increase the trespass; but where sin in-
creased, grace abounded all 'the more."
RSV.
"God permitted sin and allowed it to
abound, and then overruled it to bring
about the most wonderful display of His
glory and grace, so that the benefits of
redemption infinitely transcend the evils of
the rebellion."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Rom. 5:20.
"The work of redemption will be com-
plete. In the place where sin abounded,
God's grace much more abounds."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 26.
The Obedient Life and
Salvation by Grace
7.
In what strong language did
Paul show that justification does not
come through the law? Gal. 2:21.
NOTE.—"Paul argues that the rewards of
one who works are not a favor or a gift:
they belong to him, as the result of his
own efforts (see Rom. 4:4, 5). Now if, by
the works of the law, one may obtain all
the benefits that come through the gospel,
the plan for man's redemption through
Jesus Christ has been made unnecessary."
—SDA Bible Commentary,
on Gal.
2:21.
The law reveals sin. The Holy Spirit
brings conviction. The surrendered soul
confesses his sin, which is followed by
God's forgiveness and justification through
faith. The sinner then is clothed in Christ's
robe of righteousness.
"Nothing but His [Christ's] righteous-
ness can entitle us to one of the blessings
of the covenant of grace. . . . We must not
think that our own grace and merits will
save us; the grace of Christ is our only
hope of salvation."—Selected
Messages,
Bk.
1, p. 351.
"In order to do the will of
God, we must search His
Word, that we may know
His doctrine, and put to the
task all our entrusted
abil-
ity."—Counsels on Sabbath
School Work,
page 73.
[ 28 ]
8.
What is the condition, according
to Paul, of the man who thinks he
can obtain salvation by works? Gal.
5:4; Rom. 4:4; 11:6.
9.
How emphatically did Paul deny
that faith undermines the law? Rom.
3:31.
NOTE.—"Does this mean that we are
using faith to undermine law? By no
means: we are placing law itself on a
firmer footing." NEB.
The Controlled Life of Service
10.
How did Paul point out that
the surrendered life under grace
means liberty and service, in fulfill-
ment of the law of Christ? Gal. 5:13,
14; 6:2.
NOTE.—"God's will is expressed for you
necessarily in terms of law. The law of
God is the expression of God's will; that
will which is good and acceptable and
perfect because it is the will of infinite
Love. That is God's will for you, and it
comes to you in terms of law, and that
law of God runs throughout the whole
of life; and you never come to a time
when you get out of the range of law. We
sing sometimes 'Free from the law, 0,
happy condition!' That is true inasmuch
as there is no condemnation of the law,
but it is not true, and never can be true,
so far as the requirements of the law are
concerned. 'For what the law could not
do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh; that the righteousness of the
law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'
That is God's objective."—J. R. Howden,
quoted by Ernest F. Kevan,
The Law of
God in Christian Experience
(London:
Pickering & Inglis, 1955), page 69.
11.
How does Paul show that the
victorious life through God's keeping
grace is not a passive experience?
Gal. 5:16, 25.
NoTE.—Walking
in the Spirit is a life
of dedicated action for God. The ninefold
"fruit of the Spirit" is mentioned in Ga-
latians
5:22,
23, and Paul says, "Against
such there is no law"; that is, the law does
not say anything against this kind of
Christian service which God's grace in-
spires. It is service controlled for God's
glory.
"Men need to learn that the blessings of
obedience, in their fullness, can be theirs
only as they receive the grace of Christ.
It is His grace that gives man power to
obey the laws of God. It is this that en-
ables him to break the bondage of evil
habit. This is the only power that can
make him and keep him steadfast in the
right
path."—The Ministry of Healing,
page 115.
12.
Can saving grace in one per-
son avail for another? Matt. 25:6-9;
John 3:3, 6.
NoTE.—This parable shows 'that ulti-
mately the grace of God suffices to save
the believer who accepts it by faith, and
it will not save another. Even in present
daily life, while we may be the means of
communicating grace to others, it remains
true that redeeming grace must be in-
dividually accepted.
"The oil of grace cannot be lent by one
to another, neither [when the Lord comes]
have the foolish virgins 'time to buy oil
for themselves. . . .
"To every man is given an individual
responsibility. . . .
"Who are faithful stewards of the grace
of Christ
?"—Testimonies to Ministers,
pages 235, 236.
"Only by accepting the virtue and grace
of Christ can we keep the law. Belief in
the propitiation for sin enables fallen man
to love God with his whole heart and his
neighbor as himself."—Christ's
Object Les-
sons,
page 378.
( 29
Lesson 9, for May 31, 1969
God's Grace and Christian Perfection
MEMORY VERSE:
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your
calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so
an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our
,
lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10, 11.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Desire of Ages," chapter 73; "The Acts of the Apostles," pages
560, 561; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To gain a stronger faith in God's enabling grace as the means by
which the believer may be counted perfect in Christ Jesus.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. Developing Perfection in Man
1.
The development of character.
Rom. 5:1-6.
2.
The maturing life. 1 Cor. 2:5, 6.
3.
The complete devotion. Gen. 6:9;
Job 1:1, 8; Gen. 17:1.
II. Progressive Sanctification in Christ
4.
The central Figure. Col. 1:28.
5.
The excellency of Christ.
Phil. 3:8, 9.
6. The possession and the pursuit.
Phil. 3:12-15.
III. Enabling and Perfecting Grace
7. In differing spheres. Matt. 5:48.
8. Pardoning grace. 1 John 2:1, 2.
9. Purposeful grace.
Eph. 4:7, 12, 13.
IV. Purified Temples of the Holy Ghost
10. Human temples. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17.
11. Personal relations. Ezek. 14:20.
12. Assured election. 2 Peter 1:10, 11.
THE LESSON
Developing Perfection in Man
1.
In
what ways do justifying faith,
redeeming grace, and the peace of
God relate to character development?
Rom. 5:1-6.
Introduction
"God designs that every one of us shall
be perfect in Him. . . . He wants us to
be set free from sin."—My
Life Today,
page 15.
"None need fail of attaining, in his
sphere, to perfection of Christian char-
acter. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision
has been made for the believer to receive
all things that pertain to life and godliness.
God calls upon us to reach the standard
of perfection and places before us the
example of Christ's character. In His hu-
manity, perfected by a life of constant
resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that
through cooperation with Divinity, human
beings may in this life attain to perfection
of character."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 531.
NoTE.—Justification is the gateway to
peace
with
God, which becomes a develop-
ing and abiding experience in the peace
of
God. In verse 3, by the use of the word
"worketh," the apostle reveals a continu-
ing experience which develops the char-
acteristics listed in verses 3-6. The Phillips
translation reads, "Patient endurance ; this
in turn will develop a mature character."
In counseling certain persons who were
not growing in grace as they should have
[301
grown, Ellen G. White commented: "Oh,
how much need, then, of communion with
God! What need of divine grace to direct
every step and show us how to perfect
Christian characters
!"—Testimonies,
Vol. 3,
p. 542.
2.
What word is applied to those
to whom the apostles were preaching
the wisdom and power of God? 1 Cor.
2:5, 6.
NoTE.—Obviously the word "perfect"
here does not mean arrival at a final point
beyond which there is nothing more perfect.
"Them that are perfect" is rendered "the
mature" (RSV) ; "those who are spiritu-
ally mature" (Phillips) ; "those who are
ripe for it" (NEB).
"Perfect.
Gr.
teleioi,
'full grown,' ma-
ture.' . . . Paul is here describing mature
Christians. See Eph. 4:13, 14, where he
contrasts a 'perfect'
(teleios)
man with
`children.' Compare Phil. 3:15, where Paul
speaks of himself and others as 'perfect'
(teleioi).
In Heb. 5:14
teleioi
is rendered
`of full age.' The Christian should grow in
knowledge of the truth and should not
require continual feeding with spiritual
`milk' (Heb. 5:12,
13)."—SDA Bible Com-
mentary,
on 1 Cor. 2:6.
3.
Name some Old Testament char-
acters to whom the word "perfect" is
applied. Does this mean that their
whole life was absolutely sinlessly
perfect? Gen. 6:9 (compare 9:21);
Job 1:1, 8 (compare 40:2-5; 42:2-6);
Gen. 17:1 (compare 20:2-5).
NoTE.—In these cases Noah and Job
are called "perfect," and God told Abra-
ham to be "perfect," which is a common
rendering of the Hebrew words
tam,
or
tamim.
Yet weakness is seen in their lives.
Their hearts were right toward God, and
as they confessed their faults, they be-
came justified, sanctified, and were thus
perfect in His sight.
"In the OT,
tam
signifies completeness,
integrity, and sincerity, but always in a
relative sense when used of man. A per-
son with a 'perfect heart' was a man whose
life was completely devoted to the Lord
(1 Ki 8:61; 1 Chr 12:38; Is 38:3; KJV)."
—SDA Bible Dictionary,
page 840.
Progressive Sanctification in Christ
4.
In whom is our perfection cen-
tered? Col. 1:28.
NOTE.—"Paul describes the work of
God's ambassadors as that by which every
man shall be presented perfect in Christ
Jesus."—Testimonies,
Vol. 5, p. 500.
5.
For what did Paul suffer the loss
of all things? Phil. 3:8, 9.
NOTE.—"Mine own righteousness, which
is of the law," is here contrasted with "the
righteousness which is of God by faith."
"True observance of the law can result
only from the transformation of the mind
by divine grace."—SDA
Bible Commen-
tary,
on Phil. 3:9.
6.
How did Paul express the idea
that he possessed perfection and yet
was still seeking it? Phil. 3:12-15.
NOTE.—"I have not yet reached per-
fection." Phil. 3:12, NEB. "Let those of us
who are mature." Phil. 3:15, RSV.
"Paul says, I have not attained, but I
press forward. It is constant advancement
and improvement and reformation that is
to be made with individuals, to perfect a
symmetrical, well-balanced character."—El-
len G. White,
Life Sketches,
page 303.
Enabling and Perfecting Grace
7. What standard of perfection is
set before the believer? Matt. 5:48.
NoTE.—"Our Saviour understood all
about human nature, and He says to every
human being, [Matt. 5:48 quoted here].
As God is perfect in His sphere, so man is
to be perfect in his
sphere."—Medical Min-
istry,
pages 112, 113.
[
31]
"This command [Matt. 5:48] is a prom-
ise. The plan of redemption contemplates
our complete recovery from the power of
Satan. Christ always separates the con-
trite soul from sin. He came to destroy
the works of the devil, and He has made
provision that the Holy Spirit shall be
imparted to every repentant soul, to keep
him from sinning."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 311.
"Moral and spiritual perfection, through
the grace and power of Christ, is promised
to
all."—The Acts of the Apostles,
page
478.
8.
In what words are we assured
that sinful but repentant men are sure
of divine grace from God? 1 John
2:1, 2.
NOTE.—"Jesus continues: As you confess
Me before men, so I will confess you be-
fore God and the holy angels. You are
to be My witnesses upon earth, channels
through which My grace can flow for
the healing of the world. So I will be
your representative in heaven. The Father
beholds not your faulty character, but He
sees you as clothed in My perfection."—
The Desire of Ages,
page 357.
9.
For what purpose does every be-
liever receive a measure of enabling
grace as a gift from Christ? Eph. 4:
7, 12, 13.
NOTE.—"His gifts were made that Chris-
tians might be properly equipped for their
service, that the whole body might be
built up until the time comes when, in
the unity of common faith and common
knowledge of the Son of God, we arrive
at real maturity—that measure of develop-
ment which is meant by 'the fullness of
Christ.'" Eph. 4:12, 13, Phillips.
"Under the Holy Spirit's working even
the weakest, by exercising faith in God,
learned to improve their entrusted powers
and to become sanctified, refined, and en-
nobled. . . . They received of the fullness
of the Godhead and were fashioned in the
likeness of the divine."—The
Acts of the
Apostles,
pages 49, 50.
Purified Temples of the
Holy Ghost
10.
What illustration is used by
Paul to show that the Spirit of God
dwells in the believers? 1 Cor. 3:
16, 17.
NOTE.—"Only Christ can cleanse the
soul temple. But He will not force an en-
trance. . . . 'He will subdue our iniquities;
and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the
depths of the sea.' . . . Micah 7:19. His
presence will cleanse and sanctify the soul,
so that it may be a holy temple unto the
Lord, and 'an habitation of God through
the Spirit.' Eph. 2:21,
22."—The Desire of
Ages,
pages 161, 162.
"God can use every person just in pro-
portion as He can put His Spirit into the
soul-temple."—Testimonies,
Vol. 7, p. 144.
Compare Vol. 5, p. 92, where Christians
are urged to empty the soul-temple of all
rubbish—all envyings, all suspicions, all
faultfindings.
11.
How does an Old Testament
prophet impress upon us that salva-
tion is an individual matter? Ezek.
14:20.
NoTE.—"Now, while our great High
Priest is making the atonement for us,
we should seek to become perfect in
Christ....
"It is in this life that we are to separate
sin from us, through faith in the atoning
blood of Christ."—The
Great Controversy,
page 623.
"When a man is earnestly engaged day
by day in overcoming the defects in his
character, he is cherishing Christ in his
soul-temple; the light of Christ is in him."
—Testimonies,
Vol. 4, p. 346.
12.
What will be the result of the
believer's making his calling and elec-
tion sure? 2 Peter 1:10, 11.
NOTE.—"Man is to cooperate with God,
employing every power according to his
God-given ability. . . .
[ 32
"Through the imparted grace of Christ,
he may be enabled to overcome. To be an
overcomer means more than many suppose
it means.. .
"We are to strive, wrestle, agonize,
watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by
the wily foe. For the power and grace with
which we can do this comes from God,
and all the while we are to trust in Him,
who is able to save to the uttermost all
who come unto God by
Him."—Selected
Messages,
Bk. 1, pp. 380, 381.
Lesson 10, for June 7, 1969
The Grace of God and the Covenants of the Bible
MEMORY VERSE:
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our
Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will,
working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ;
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Heb. 13:20, 21.
STUDY HELPS:
"Patriarchs and Prophets," pages 363-373; "SDA Bible Commen-
tary."
STUDY AIM:
To obtain a fuller understanding and appreciation of the covenants
of the Bible and of my relationship to God's covenant of grace today.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Covenants Compared
1.
Some covenants enumerated.
Gen. 3:15; 8:21, 22; 15:18;
Ex. 19:5, 6.
2.
The covenant of mercy and its
Mediator. Heb. 8:6.
3.
The old and the new. Heb. 8:8-12.
II. The Everlasting Covenant
4.
An immutable covenant of salva-
tion. Heb. 7:21, 22.
5.
The promise before the world
began. Titus 1:2.
6.
The ratification of this covenant.
Matt. 26:27, 28.
III. The Covenant of Grace in Action
7.
The effect in the believer's life.
Eph. 1:3-5.
8.
The believer's relation to God.
John 1:12.
9.
The common principles in old and
new covenants. Ex. 19:5 (first
part) ; Heb. 5:9.
IV. Law and Grace Under the
New Covenant
10, The effect of grace and the
observance of law. Rom. 3:31.
11.
Jesus, the disciples, and their
attitude toward the Ten Com-
mandments. Matt. 5:21, 22 ;
19:17-19; Luke 23:56.
12.
Grace and justification. Rom.
3:23, 24.
13.
Grace and the transgression of
law. Rom. 6:1, 2.
THE LESSON
Introduction
"As the Bible presents two laws, one
changeless and eternal, the other pro-
visional and temporary, so there are two
covenants. The covenant of grace was
first made with man in Eden. . . . To all
men this covenant offered pardon and the
assisting grace of God for future obedience
through faith in Christ. It also promised
them eternal life on condition of fidelity
to God's law. Thus the patriarchs received
33 2
the hope of
salvation."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
page 370.
Men often made mutual covenants for
personal reasons, as when Abraham and
Abimelech "made a covenant" at Beer-
sheba (Gen. 21:27-32). Isaac covenanted
with Abimelech (Gen. 26:28), and Laban
with Jacob (Gen. 31:44), the Gibeonites
with Joshua (see Joshua 9:6, 11, 15, RSV,
where "covenant" is used instead of
"league").
The Covenants Compared
1. What are some of the covenants
mentioned in the Old Testament?
Gen. 3:15; 8:21, 22; 15:18; Ex. 19:
5, 6.
NOTE.—The Adamic covenant (Gen. 3:
15) is really God's covenant of grace with
mankind. "To man the first intimation of
redemption was communicated in the sen-
tence pronounced upon Satan in the gar-
den."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 65.
While Adam and Eve were now sinners
facing a life of toil and suffering, "they
could look forward to final victory."—
Ibid.,
p. 66.
The covenant with Noah (Gen. 8:21, 22;
compare 6:18) is the first Bible reference
to "covenant."
"With the assurance given to Noah con-
cerning the Flood, God Himself has linked
one of the most precious promises of His
grace: 'As I have sworn that the waters
of Noah should no more go over the
earth; so have I sworn that I would not
be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For
the mountains shall depart, and the hills
be removed; but My kindness shall not
depart from thee, neither shall the cov-
enant of My peace be removed, saith
Jehovah .that hath mercy on thee.'
"—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 107.
Here again is the repetition of the mercy
of God toward the repentant sinner.
The Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 15:18;
18:18; 22:18) has new and distinctive
features, such as its promise of a Redeemer
for the blessing of all nations.
The Mosaic covenant at Sinai, also
called the old covenant (Ex. 19:5, 6;
compare Heb. 8:8, 9), shares with the
Abrahamic covenant God's determination
to choose a special people as His own,
who would share communion and fellow-
ship with Him. It was sealed by the shed-
ding of blood. Ex. 24:8. The people failed
to keep this covenant (Heb. 8:8), and it
was replaced by the new covenant. Jer.
31:31-33.
2.
Of what covenant is Jesus the
Mediator? Heb. 8:6. Compare Heb.
13:20.
NOTE.—"The salvation of the human
race has ever been the object of the coun-
cils of heaven. The covenant of mercy was
made before the foundation of the world.
It has existed from all eternity, and is
called the everlasting covenant. So surely
as there never was a time when God was
not, so surely there never was a moment
when it was not the delight of the eternal
mind to manifest His grace to humanity."
—Ellen G. White Comments,
SD A Bible
Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 934.
"The atonement of Christ sealed for-
ever the everlasting covenant of grace.
It was the fulfilling of every condition
upon which God suspended the free com-
munication of grace to the human family.
Every barrier was then broken down
which intercepted the freest exercise of
grace, mercy, peace, and love to the most
guilty of Adam's race."—Ibid., p. 933.
3.
What made a new covenant
necessary, and what was its relation
to the old? Heb. 8:8-12. Compare
Jer. 31:31-33.
NOTE.—"The terms of the 'old covenant'
were, Obey and live: 'If a man do, he shall
even live in them' . . . ; but 'cursed be he
that confirmeth not all the words of this
law to do them.' . . . The 'new covenant'
was established upon 'better promises'—
the promise of forgiveness of sins and of
the grace of God to renew the heart and
bring it into harmony with the principles
of God's law [Jer. 31:33, 34 here quoted]."
—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 372.
The Everlasting Covenant
4.
What act made Jesus the surety
of a better covenant? Heb. 7:21, 22.
Compare Ps. 110:4; Heb. 6:17.
[ 84 ]
NOTE.—During the time of trouble pre-
ceding our Lord's return God's anxious
people hear His voice in thunder tones.
"God spoke the day and the hour of
Jesus' coming, and delivered the everlast-
ing covenant to His people. . . . The Israel
of God stood with their eyes fixed upward
listening to the words. . . . And when the
never-ending blessing was pronounced on
those who had honored God in keeping
His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty
shout of victory over the beast and over
his image."—Early
Writings,
page 34.
Compare
The Great Controversy,
page 640.
5.
When did God make the promise
of eternal life to man? Titus 1:2.
NoTE.—When Zacharias prophesied
(Luke 1:67-79), he declared that in the
astonishing events of the births of Jesus
and John, the Lord had fulfilled a re-
demptive part of the Abrahamic covenant.
God initiated and executed His cove-
nant; man agreed, obeyed, and inherited
the blessing. Thus God's everlasting cove-
nant is an act of sovereign grace for the
salvation of every believing man.
"We owe everything to grace, free grace,
sovereign grace. Grace in the covenant
ordained our adoption. Grace in the Sav-
iour effected our redemption, our regen-
eration, and our adoption to heirship with
Christ. Let this grace be revealed to
others."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 268.
6.
How is the shedding of the
blood of the covenant symbolized?
Matt. 26:27, 28. Compare Heb. 13:
20, 21.
The Covenant of Grace in Action
7.
What glorious privileges has
God bestowed on us through Jesus
Christ? Eph. 1:3-5.
NOTE.—"Before the foundations of the
earth were laid, the covenant was made
that all who were obedient, all who should
through the abundant grace provided, be-
come holy in character, and without blame
before God, by appropriating that grace,
should be children of
God."—Fundamen-
tals of Christian Education,
page 403.
8.
What does the work of Jesus
enable the believer to become? John
1:12.
NOTE.—"Under the new covenant, the
conditions by which eternal life may be
gained are the same as under the old—
perfect obedience. Under the old cove-
nant, there were many offenses of a daring,
presumptuous character, for which there
was no atonement specified by law. In the
new and better covenant, Christ has ful-
filled the law for the transgressors of law,
if they receive Him by faith as a personal
Saviour. [John 1:12 quoted here in full.]"
—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible
Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 931.
9.
What was required of man un-
der both covenants? Ex. 19:5 (first
part); Heb. 5:9. Compare Matt. 19:
17-19.
NOTE.—"The same law that was en-
graved upon the tables of stone is written
by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the
heart [under the new covenant]. Instead
of going about to establish our own righ-
teousness we accept the righteousness of
Christ. His blood atones for our sins. His
obedience is accepted for us. Then the
heart renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring
forth 'the fruits of the Spirit.' Through
the grace of Christ we shall live in obedi-
ence to the law of God written upon our
hearts."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page
372.
"By His own obedience to the law,
Christ testified to its immutable char-
acter and proved that through His grace
it could be perfectly obeyed by every son
and daughter of
Adam."—Thoughts From
the Mount of Blessing,
page 49.
Law and Grace Under the
New Covenant
10.
What is the relationship be-
tween faith and law? Rom. 3:31.
[ 35 ]
NoTE.—"Now he asserts that law, viewed
as a revelation of the holy will of God
and of the eternal principles of morality, is
fully vindicated and established by the
gospel of righteousness by faith in Jesus
Christ. Jesus came to this earth to magnify
the law (Isa. 42:21; cf. Matt. 5:17) and to
reveal by His life of perfect obedience that
Christians can, through the empowering
grace of God, give obedience to His law."
—SDA Bible Commentary,
on Rom. 3:31.
11. What was the attitude of Jesus
and the disciples toward the precepts
of the Ten Commandments? Matt.
5:21, 22; 19:17-19; Luke 23:56.
NOTE.-"It
was Christ who had spoken
through Moses and the prophets (1 Peter
1:9, 10; PP 366). Now He appeared in
person to reaffirm the great eternal truths
revealed to these holy men of old, and to
restore them to their original luster, un-
tarnished by human tradition. . . . He came
to reveal the Father in His true character
(cf. Ex. 34:6, 7), to prevail upon men to
practice justice and mercy and to be
humble before God (Micah 6:6-8)."—
SDA
Bible Commentary,
on John 1:17.
"If we would have the spirit and power
of the third angel's message, we must
present the law and the gospel together, for
they go hand in
hand."—Gospel Workers,
page 161.
12.
What provision is made in the
gospel of Christ for the justification
of sinners? Rom. 3:23, 24.
Nom—Paul makes clear that even in
Abrahamic times the gospel of grace was
revealed (Gal. 3:8). Wherever people had
a knowledge of God's commandments they
also had redeeming grace made available
to them through faith.
13.
What searching questions does
Paul ask regarding sin and grace?
Rom. 6:1, 2.
Lesson 11, for June 14, 1969
Redeeming Grace and Predestination
MEMORY VERSE:
"For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.
STUDY HELP:
"SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To seek to understand God's eternal purposes of grace through His
foreknowledge and
His desire that all should be saved.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Predetermined Will of God
1.
Foreknowledge and predestination.
Rom. 8:29.
2.
Called, justified, and glorified.
Rom. 8:30.
3.
Called by the divine will.
Rom. 8:28.
II. Redeeming Grace for All Men
4. Salvation and reprobation.
1 Tim. 2:3, 4.
5. God's will and man's repentance.
2 Peter 3:9.
6. Everlasting life on one condition.
John 3:16.
III. God's Decrees and Man's Free Will
7. The eternal purpose. 2 Tim. 1:9.
8. The predetermined ways.
Rom. 6:16, 23.
C36]
9.
The eternal and immutable de-
crees. Eph. 3:10, 11; Heb. 6:17, 18.
IV. God's Expectation in Men of Faith
10.
Assuring our calling and election.
2 Peter 1:10, 11.
11.
Producing the fruits of a Christ-
like life. 1 Peter 1:1-3.
12.
Shining forth in good works.
Eph. 2:10.
THE LESSON
may be renewed. Man may stand with the
moral image of God in his character; for
Jesus will give it to him. Unless the moral
image of God is seen in man, he can
never enter the City of God as a con-
queror."—Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA
Bible Commentary,
Vol. 6, p. 1078.
Introduction
Scarcely any doctrine has caused such
bitter and lasting controversy from the
fourth century onward as the doctrine of
predestination. Involved in the endless dis-
putation were questions such as the sov-
ereign will of God, the free will of man,
the saving grace of God, the place of hu-
man effort, and salvation by grace through
faith.
Seventh-day Adventists have always be-
lieved that a loving God made provision
for every man's redemption by His free
grace, and that when men respond to the
appeals of redeeming grace they become
the elect and obedient children of God.
"The Father sets His love upon His
elect people who live in the midst of men.
These are the people whom Christ has
redeemed by the price of His own blood;
and because they respond to the drawing
of Christ, through the sovereign mercy of
God, they are elected to be saved as His
obedient children. Upon them is mani-
fested the free grace of God, the love
wherewith He bath loved them. Everyone
who will humble himself as a little child,
who will receive and obey the Word of
God with a child's simplicity, will be
among the elect of God."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol.
6, p. 1114.
The Predetermined Will of God
1. What does the Bible state about
God's foreknowledge in relation to
predestination? Rom. 8:29.
NoTE.—"For God knew His own before
ever they were, and also ordained that
they should be shaped to the likeness of
His Son." Rom. 8:29, NEB.
"Though the moral image of God was
almost obliterated by the sin of Adam,
through the merits and power of Jesus it
2.
What does God do for those
whom He has predestinated? Rom.
8:30.
NOTE.—Men are called by the preaching
of the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). They are
justified by faith in Christ's atoning work
on the cross (Rom. 3:28) and by His
resurrection (Rom. 4:25) . Full glorifica-
tion is to come when the redeemed enter
into glory (Rom. 8:18).
3.
According to whose purpose are
men called? Rom. 8:28.
NOTE.—"This Jesus, delivered up accord-
ing to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God, you crucified and killed by the
hands of lawless men." Acts 2:23, RSV.
This statement of Peter in his sermon
at Pentecost indicates that he "has so de-
veloped his spiritual insight that he now
can see the working out of God's purpose,
in harmony with God's foreknowledge, in
the tragic events associated with Christ's
death."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on Acts
2:23.
Redeeming Grace for All Men
4.
What statement of the apostle
denies the belief that God decrees the
inevitable salvation of some and the
inevitable loss of others? 1 Tim. 2:
3,4.
[ 37
NOTE.—"The doctrine of the divine de-
crees, unalterably fixing the character of
men, had led many to a virtual rejection
of the law of God. Wesley steadfastly op-
posed the errors of the Antinomian teach-
ers and showed that this doctrine which
led to Antinomianism was contrary to the
Scriptures. 'The grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to
all men.'"—
The Great Controversy,
pages 261, 262.
5.
How does Peter express God's
desire for the salvation of all men?
2 Peter 3:9.
NoTE.—"The Spirit of God will answer
the cry of every penitent heart; for re-
pentance is the gift of God, and an evi-
dence that Christ is drawing the soul to
Himself. We can no more repent of sin
without Christ, than we can be pardoned
without
Christ."—Selected Messages,
Bk.
1, p. 381.
6.
On what condition is everlasting
life provided for all men? John 3:16.
Compare Acts 4:12.
NOTE.—"It is faith that enables us to
look beyond the present, with its burdens
and cares, to the great hereafter, where all
that now perplexes us shall be made plain.
Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator
at the right hand of God. Faith beholds
the mansions that Christ has gone to pre-
pare for those who love Him. Faith sees
the robe and crown prepared for the over-
comer, and hears the song of the re-
deemed."—Gospel Workers,
pages 259, 260.
God's Decrees and Man's
Free Will
7.
When did God's purposes of sav-
ing grace begin to operate in our be-
half? 2 Tim. 1:9.
NOTE.—"Before
the world began. . . .
`Before times eternal,' that is, before the
long ages of this earth's history. In His
foreknowledge God was prepared to meet
the tragedy and crisis of sin before it
entered our world. . . . Because of God's
omniscience, past, present, and future are
alike known to Him ; no earthly event can
surprise Him. Knowing that sin would be
a personal attack by created beings against
His authority, and thus against His char-
acter, God was always prepared to dem-
onstrate His love and fairness, not only to
a sinless universe, but also before those
who had despised divine love."—SDA
Bi-
ble Commentary,
on 2 Tim. 1:9.
8.
In what words does the apostle
show that individual choice is re-
lated to man's eternal destiny? Rom.
6:16, 23.
NOTE.—"Sin
pays
its servants: the wage
is death. But God
gives
to those who
serve Him: His free gift is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:
23, Phillips.
Each person journeying through life be-
comes conscious of two ways, one leading
to life, the other to disaster. He may
choose which way he prefers. If, despite
the warnings of God in Rom. 6:23, man
chooses the wrong road and is lost, never-
theless God desired him to choose the right
road and be saved. It is impossible to be
saved if we choose the road that leads to
death, and it is equally impossible to be
lost if we will constantly remain with
Christ on the road that leads to everlast-
ing life.
9.
How are God's purpose and
counsel characterized? Eph. 3:10, 11;
Heb. 6:17, 18.
God's Expectation in Men
of Faith
10.
What is the believer admon-
ished to do with regard to his calling
and election? 2 Peter 1:10, 11.
NoTE.—There is no unconditional elec-
tion of men to salvation. Faith that leads
to obedience brings salvation. This is not
salvation by works, but salvation by grace
producing good works.
[
381
"If we comply with the conditions the
Lord has made, we shall secure our elec-
tion to salvation. Perfect obedience to His
commandments is the evidence that we love
God, and are not hardened in sin."—Ellen
G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commen-
tary,
Vol. 6. p. 1079.
11. What did the apostle Peter say
regarding (1) the relation between
God's foreknowledge and man's elec-
tion? (2) the relation between sancti-
fication and election? (3) the new
birth to a living hope? 1 Peter 1:1-3.
NOTE.—The "elect" were the "chosen
ones" who had yielded to the Holy Spirit's
call, and they were therefore "sanctified by
the Spirit." RSV. Compare 2 Thess. 2:13.
"God's plan for a man, worked out in
connection with the sanctifying energy of
the Holy Spirit, produces the fruit of a
Christlike life."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on 1 Peter 1:2.
"For every human being, Christ has paid
the election price. No one need be lost.
All have been redeemed. . . .
"Whom God elects, Christ redeems."—
Ellen G. White Comments,
SDA Bible
Commentary,
Vol. 7, p. 944.
12. What is the purpose of the new
creation? Eph. 2:10.
NoTE.—"God desires His people to show
by their lives the advantage of Christianity
over worldliness. We are to live so that
God can use us in His work of converting
men and women and leading them to wash
their garments of character and make them
white in the blood of the Lamb. We are
His workmanship, 'created in Christ Jesus
unto good works' (Eph. 2:10). Through
us God desires to reveal His manifold
wisdom. Therefore He bids us let our light
shine forth in good
works."—Selected Mes-
sages,
Bk. 2, p. 157.
Lesson 12, for June 21, 1969
Redeeming Grace and Christian Fellowship
MEMORY VERSE:
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace
given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ." Eph. 3:8, 9.
STUDY HELP:
"SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To seek to understand how divine grace makes possible fellowship
between God and man and between believers.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Mystery of Gracious Fellowship
1.
Enabled by grace to preach and to
accept the mystery. Eph. 3:8, 9.
2.
Revealed as "Christ in you, the
hope of glory." Col. 1:27.
3.
Called unto fellowship. 1 Cor. 1:9.
II. The Implications of Gracious
Fellowship
4.
Solemn fellowship at the Lord's
table. 1 Cor. 10:16-21.
5.
Tasting death for every man,
by God's grace. Heb. 2:9 (last
part), 14 (first part).
6.
Relationships with the Godhead.
1 John 1:3, 6.
[391
7.
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
2 Cor. 13:14.
III. The Gracious Fellowship of
the Apostolic Church
8.
Great grace and great power.
Acts 2:42.
9.
Joyfulness and generosity.
2 Cor. 8:1-4, 6.
10.
Gracious actions. Gal. 2:9.
IV. The Practical Results of
Fellowship With God
11.
Entering the circle of Christian
fellowship. 1 John 1:3-5.
12.
Exhortation and warning.
1 John 1:7; 2 Cor. 6:14-16.
13.
Safeguarding the church. John
17:21.
THE LESSON
needed to bring salvation to the world.
And to men and women has been com-
mitted the sacred trust of making known
`the unsearchable riches of Christ.'
"—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 134.
2. How does Paul describe the mys-
tery revealed through the preaching
of the gospel? Col. 1:27.
Introduction
The chief objects of God's creation were
persons,
not
things.
It was His desire to
dwell among men and women. When sin
changed human conditions, God's desire
for contact and fellowship with needy men
was magnified. It centered in the plan of
redemption, of which the great mysteries
of the incarnation and the atonement were
the focal points. These miracles linked God
and man forever through suffering and
conquest.
" 'Unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on Him, but
also to suffer for His sake.' Phil. 1:29. And
of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow
upon men, fellowship with Christ in His
sufferings is the most weighty trust and
the highest honor."—The
Desire of Ages,
page 225.
The Mystery of Gracious
Fellowship
1. By what was Paul enabled to
make men see "the fellowship of the
mystery"? Eph. 3:8, 9.
NoTE.—"Fellowship" here is "plan" in
the RSV, which is in accordance with
many other translations. It was God's
will to use believing men in a plan or
dispensation that would see the outpour-
ing of divine grace through the coming of
the Lord Jesus Christ among men for
their redemption.
"As His representatives among men, God
does not choose angels who have never
fallen, but human beings, men of like pas-
sions with those they seek to save. Christ
took humanity that He might reach hu-
manity. A divine-human Saviour was
NOTE.-"If
Christ is formed within, the
hope of glory, then the truth of God will
so act upon your natural temperament,
that its transforming agency will be re-
vealed in a changed
character."—Funda-
mentals of Christian Education,
page 263.
3.
Into what were the Corinthian
believers called? 1 Cor. 1:9.
NoTE.—Verse 4 shows Paul's thankful-
ness for the enriching grace of God upon
these imperfect saints, who, in verses 8
and 9, were assured that if they persevered
in this grace, they would be preserved
blameless in "the fellowship of His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Implications of Gracious
Fellowship
4.
What implications may be seen
in sincere communion at the Lord's
Supper? 1 Cor. 10:16-21.
NoTE.—"Communion" is an alternative
rendering of the Greek word
koinonia,
"fellowship." Sincerity in this communion
implies:
[40
]
(1)
Belief in salvation and a sacred
fellowship through faith in the sub-
stitutionary death of Christ (v. 16) ;
(2)
Acknowledgment of union in Christ
and unity through common faith in
His sacrifice for us (v. 17) ;
(3)
Renouncement of the service of evil
(v. 20) ;
(4)
Devotion to one Lord (v. 21).
"It is impossible to hold fellowship with
God and with Satan at the same time; one
or the other must be renounced."—SDA
Bible Commentary,
on 1 Cor. 10:21.
5.
What did the grace of God lead
Jesus to do for us? Of what did Jesus
partake in common with mankind?
Heb. 2:9 (last part), 14 (first part).
NorE.—"Christ would take upon Him-
self the guilt and shame of sin—sin so
offensive to a holy God that it must
separate the Father and His Son. Christ
would reach to the depths of misery to
rescue the ruined
race."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
page 63.
"He was divine, but He took our human
nature, mysteriously blending the two na-
tures in one. . . . That He might enter
into all the experiences of mankind, Christ
became
man."—SDA Bible Commentary,
on Heb. 2:14.
6.
With which two Persons of the
Godhead are believers said to be in
fellowship? What is said of the man
who claims to be in this fellowship
but whose life belies his profession?
1 John 1:3, 6.
7.
What is said in the New Testa-
ment about the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit with believers? 2 Cor. 13:14.
Compare Phil. 2:1.
NoTE.—We have seen that believers have
fellowship with the Father and the Son
(1 John 1:3), and with the Holy Spirit
(2 Cor. 13:14), and with each other
(1 John 1:3).
The Gracious Fellowship of
the Apostolic Church
8.
To what four things did the
earliest Christian converts give their
steadfast attention? Acts 2:42.
NOTE.—"Continuing steadfastly" means
waiting assiduously upon the doctrinal
teachings of the men who had lived with
the Lord. In their writings are found
teachings of Christ who said, "Go . . . and
teach . . . all things whatsoever I have
commanded you." Matt. 28:19, 20.
"The fellowship" of common beliefs be-
came intimate and sacred at the table of
the Lord. This was not a eucharistic "real
presence" and a renewed sacrifice by a
priest, but a gathering of those who be-
lieved in the atoning sacrifice of Christ
whose presence became real in every peni-
tent, faithful believer from Calvary on-
ward "till He come."
9.
Into what did the grace of God
burst forth among the hard-pressed
Macedonians? 2 Cor. 8:1-4, 6.
NoTE.—Joyful and abundant
liberality
flourished among these poverty-stricken
believers, who thereupon begged to be
granted a part in a fellowship of service.
In Rom. 15:26 and 2 Cor. 9:13 the Greek
koinonia
is used of this collection for
needy saints. Thus spiritual fellowship and
practical service go together in the Chris-
tian church. We are in a "fellowship of
ministering."
"The willingness to sacrifice on the part
of the Macedonian believers came as a
result of wholehearted consecration. . . .
"Unselfish liberality threw the early
church into a transport of joy; for the
believers knew that their efforts were
helping to send the gospel message to
those in darkness. Their benevolence testi-
fied that they had not received the grace
of God in vain. What could produce such
liberality but the sanctification of the
Spirit? In the eyes of believers and un-
believers it was a miracle of grace."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
pages 343, 344.
[ 411
10.
By what gracious act did the
leading brethren in Jerusalem re-
ceive Paul and Barnabas into intimate
Christian relationship? Gal. 2:9.
NoTE.—This was one of the most try-
ing periods of the early church, for severe
internal pressures were added to harassing
external hatreds. It was no time for prej-
udice, friction, and personal considera-
tions. The apostles' mutual love expressed
the unity of Christian fellowship, and the
"right hand of fellowship" was the out-
ward sign of these things.
When facing forbidding difficulties in
Europe in 1902, Ellen G. White wrote:
"Troublous times are before us, but if we
stand together in Christian fellowship,
none striving for supremacy, God will
work mightily for
us."—Testirnonies,
Vol.
8, p. 38.
The Practical Results of
Fellowship With God
11.
What reasons are given by John
for the preaching of the gospel by the
apostles? 1 John 1:3-5.
Noxs.—"The claim to fellowship with
God must be demonstrated by its practical
results. There will be a two-sided life—
thought and action, prayer and work (MH
512). To practice the presence of God is
to be conscious at all times of His near-
ness through His Holy Spirit. Every
thought, every word, every act, reflects
consciousness of His loving presence and
His all-seeing eye. We have come to love
Him. We know that He has always loved
us, and we are grateful for His care (Ps.
139:1-12; Jer. 31:3). As naturally as a
child confidently slips his hand into that
of his father at the approach of danger,
and keeps it there even when the danger is
past, so the child of God walks with his
heavenly Father. Such is true 'fellowship
with Him.'
"—SDA Bible Commentary,
on
1 John 1:6.
12.
How are the believers said to
find mutual fellowship? What human
fellowship is to be avoided? 1 John
1:7; 2 Cor. 6:14-16.
NoTE.—Christians who have "obtained
like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1) as a gift
of God's grace find their fellowship "one
with another."
Paul strongly exhorted Christians: "Do
not unite yourselves with unbelievers; they
are no fit mates for you." 2 Cor. 6:14,
NEB.
" 'Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers,' refers not only to the
marriage of Christians with the ungodly,
but to all alliances in which the parties
are brought into intimate association, and
in which there is need of harmony in
spirit and
action."—Evangelism,
page 617.
"Every union in which the character,
beliefs, and interests of the Christian lose
anything of their distinctiveness and in-
tegrity, is hereby prohibited. A Christian
cannot afford to enter into any connection
with the world that calls for compromise."
—SDA Bible Commentary,
on 2 Cor. 6:14.
13.
In what striking words did
Jesus pray for the unity of believers
among themselves and with their
Lord? How was this unity to affect
men of the world? John 17:21. Com-
pare 1 Cor. 1:10.
NOTE.—"As Jesus was about to leave
His disciples, He prayed for them in a
most touching, solemn manner that they all
might be one [John 17:21 here quoted]."—
Testimonies,
Vol. 3, p. 446.
"God wants His people to be united in
the closest bonds of Christian fellowship;
confidence in our brethren is essential to
the prosperity of the church; union of
action is important in a religious crisis.
One imprudent step, one careless action,
may plunge the church into difficulties and
trials from which it may not recover for
years. One member of the church filled
with unbelief may give an advantage to the
great foe that will affect the prosperity of
the entire church, and many souls may be
lost as the result."—Ibid.
The money you give is all
the money you ever truly
save.
[ 42 ]
Lesson 13, for June 28, 1969
Grace and Power in the Remnant Church
MEMORY VERSE:
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation." Rev. 5:9.
STUDY HELPS:
"The Great Controversy," chapter 38; "SDA Bible Commentary."
STUDY AIM:
To see the condition of the world and the power of God in His
remnant people during the final conflict between Christ and Satan.
Lesson Outline:
Introduction
I. The Condition of the World in the
Last Days
1.
Attitude
to religion in the last
days. 2 Peter 3:3.
2.
Description of the last days.
2 Tim. 3:1-5.
II. The Condition of the Church
in the Last Days
3.
God's power to meet last-day
conditions. Acts 2:16, 17.
4.
Accelerated evil met by special
grace. Rev. 12:12.
5.
Church should seek diligently to
be without spot. 2 Peter 3:14.
6.
Proof of divine sustenance in the
last conflict. Dan. 12:1.
III. The Church and the Final Revival
7.
Holy Spirit available for every
believer. Luke 11:13.
8.
Corroboration from Ellen G.
White statements. TM 17 ; PK 725,
259, 260; TM 18.
9.
Conditions ensuing from a Spirit-
filled church. Eph. 4:3.
IV. The World Enlightened by God's
Truth Through His Church
10.
Old Testament prophecy inter-
preted by Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 13:47.
11.
World enlightened by third angel's
message. Rev. 14:6-12.
12.
A further message of enlighten-
ment. Rev. 18:1-4.
13.
Songs of the redeemed. Rev. 15:3.
THE LESSON
Introduction
gaged in the climactic struggle of the ages.
"Looking down through the ages to the
In
the New Testament a sense of the
close of time, Peter was inspired to out-
imminence of Christ's second coming and
line conditions that would exist in the
of the end of the age, brought vividly into
world just prior to the second coming of
Christian thinking the fact of a remnant
Christ. 'There shall come in the last days
church. This church would face tribula-
scoffers,' he wrote, 'walking after their own
tion in a wicked world. There would be
lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of
a great outpouring of power on God's
His coming? for since the fathers fell
church, and a great manifestation of evil - asleep, all things continue as they were
in the world, and the two would be en-
from the beginning of the creation.' But
[ 43
`when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon
them.' 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Not all, how-
ever, would be ensnared by the enemy's
devices. As the end of all things earthly
should approach, there would be faithful
ones able to discern the signs of the times.
While a large number of professing be-
lievers would deny their faith by their
works, there would be a remnant who
would endure to the
end."—The Acts of
the Apostles,
pages 535, 536.
The Condition of the World
in the Last Days
1.
What characteristics of worldly
men in the last days does Peter men-
tion? 2 Peter 3:3. Compare Jude 18.
NotE.—"Note this first: in the last days
there will come men who scoff at religion
and live self-indulgent lives." 2 Peter 3:3,
NEB.
"Marvelous beyond expression is the
blindness of the people of this generation.
Thousands reject the Word of God as un-
worthy of belief and with eager confidence
receive the deceptions of Satan. Skeptics
and scoffers denounce the bigotry of those
who contend for the faith of prophets and
apostles, and they divert themselves by
holding up to ridicule the solemn declara-
tions of the Scriptures concerning Christ
and the plan of salvation, and the retribu-
tion to be visited upon the rejecters of the
truth."—The
Great Controversy,
page 561.
"Multitudes feel under no moral obli-
gation to curb their sensual desires, and
they become the slaves of lust. Men are
living for the pleasures of sense; for this
world and this life
alone."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
pages 101, 102.
2.
What expression is used by Paul
to describe the last days and con-
ditions that would exist in the world?
2 Tim. 3:1-5.
NoTE.—For "perilous times" we may
read "times of stress" (RSV), or "a time
of troubles" (NEB). The Greek word
translated "perilous" may also be rendered
"grievous" or "oppressive." Such times
are produced by men of the character seen
in these verses. They are "implacable in
their hatreds" (NEB). They commit and
tolerate crime, violence, and lawlessness
on an unprecedented scale.
"There is coming rapidly and surely an
almost universal guilt upon the inhabitants
of the cities, because of the steady increase
of determined wickedness."—Prophets
and
Kings,
page 275.
"The Spirit of God is gradually but
surely being withdrawn from the earth.
Plagues and judgments are already falling
upon the despisers of the grace of God."
—Evangelism,
pages 31, 32.
"The agencies of evil are combining
their forces and consolidating. They are
strengthening for the last great crisis."—
Testimonies,
Vol. 9, p. 11.
The Condition of the Church
in the Last Days
3.
In the midst of last-day condi-
tions, what has the Lord promised to
His faithful servants? Acts 2:16, 17.
Compare Joel 2:28.
NOTE.—"Peter identified the events on
the day of Pentecost as a partial fulfill-
ment of Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:16-21).
Instead of `afterward' Peter used the phrase
`in the last days' (v.
17)."—SDA Bible
Commentary,
on Joel 2:28.
"This prophecy [Joel 2:28] . . . will
reach its full accomplishment in the mani-
festation of divine grace which will attend
the closing work of the gospel."—The
Great Controversy,
page ix.
4.
What counterworking satanic
power was foretold by John? Rev.
12:12.
"Time
is short, and our
forces must be organized to
do a larger
work."—Testi-
monies,
Vol. 9, p. 27.
[44]
NoTE.—"When the apostles of Christ
were to bear His gospel to the world and
to record it for all future ages, they were
especially endowed with the enlightenment
of the Spirit. But as the church approaches
her final deliverance, Satan is to work
with greater power. He comes down 'hav-
ing great wrath, because he knoweth that
he hath but a short time.' Revelation 12:
12. He will work 'with all power and
signs and lying wonders.' 2 Thessalonians
2:9. For six thousand years that master-
mind that once was highest among the
angels of God has been wholly bent to
the work of deception and ruin. And all
the depths of satanic skill and subtlety
acquired, all the cruelty developed, during
these struggles of the ages, will be brought
to bear against God's people in the final
conflict."—The
Great Controversy,
pages
ix, x.
5.
While awaiting Christ's second
coming, what are we exhorted to
seek diligently? 2 Peter 3:14.
6.
What glorious promise is given
that God will sustain and deliver His
remnant people? Dan. 12:1.
The Church and the Final Revival
7.
What did Jesus affirm regarding
the availability of the Holy Spirit for
every believer? Luke 11:13.
NOTE.—"The descent of the Holy Spirit
upon the church is looked forward to as
in the future; but it is the privilege of
the
church to have it now. Seek for it,
pray for it, believe for it. We must have
it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it."
—Evangelism,
page 701.
"A work of worldwide extent and un-
wonted power is here foretold. The advent
movement of 1840-44 was a glorious mani-
festation of the power of God; . . . but
these are to be exceeded by the mighty
movement under the last warning of the
"As our physical life is sus-
tained by food, so our spiri-
tual life is sustained by the
Word of God. And every
soul is to receive life from
God's Word for himself."—
The Desire of Ages,
page 390.
third
angel."—The Great Controversy,
page 611.
8. How does Ellen G. White de-
scribe the condition and power of the
church militant in the final conflict?
ANSWER:
a.
"The church is to be fed with manna
from heaven and to be kept under the sole
guardianship of His grace. Clad in com-
plete armor of light and righteousness, she
enters upon her final
conflict."—Testimo-
nies to Ministers,
page 17.
b.
"'Fair
as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners'
(Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go
forth into all the world, conquering and
to
conquer."—Prophets and Kings,
page
725.
c.
"The church of Christ is God's agency
for the proclamation of truth; she is em-
powered by Him to do a special work;
and if she is loyal to God, obedient to His
commandments, there will dwell within her
the excellency of divine power. If she will
be true to her allegiance, there is no power
that can stand against her. The forces of
the enemy will be no more able to over-
whelm her than is the chaff to resist the
whirlwind.
"There is before the church the dawn of
a bright, glorious day, if she will put on
the robe of Christ's righteousness, with-
drawing from all allegiance to the world."
—Prophets and Kings,
pages 259, 260.
d.
"The gift of His Holy Spirit, rich,
full, and abundant, is to be to His church
as an encompassing wall of fire, which the
powers of hell shall not prevail against"—
Testimonies to Ministers,
page 18.
9. What are believers admonished
to endeavor to maintain? Eph. 4:3.
[ 45 ]
Nom—Contrast these conditions with
those in the hostile world in the last days
(2 Tim. 3:1-5, discussed under question 2
above). "Make it your aim to be at one
in the Spirit, and you will inevitably be at
peace with one another." Eph. 4:3, Phil-
lips. "Spare no effort to make fast with
bonds of peace the unity which the Spirit
gives." NEB. We do not find confusion
and disunity where God's Spirit reigns in
the church.
When encouraging the church to accept
the responsibility of a world mission pro-
gram, the servant of God wrote: "The
church is to work actively, as an organized
body, to spread abroad the influence of
the cross of
Christ."—Gospel Workers,
page 464.
Organization that is guided by the Holy
Spirit moves forward in peace and power.
"When the work is carried on in this
way ['standing . . . shoulder to shoulder,
marching right ahead, and not drawing
off'], there is unity of heart, and there
will be harmony of action. This will be a
wonderful means of bringing the blessing
of God upon the
people."—Testimonies,
Vol. 6, p. 50.
The World Enlightened by God's
Truth Through His Church
10. What prophecy did the apos-
tles use to prove that the whole world
is to be enlightened? Acts 13:47. Com-
pare Isa. 42:6.
NOTE.—"It is the love of God continu-
ally transferred to man that enables him
to impart light. . . .
"In the great and measureless gift of
the Holy Spirit are contained all of heav-
en's resources. It is not because of any
restriction on the part of God that the
riches of His grace do not flow earthward
to men. If all were willing to receive, all
would become filled with His Spirit.
"It is the privilege of every soul to be
Have you given your Birth-
day-Thank Offering yet?
a living channel through which God can
communicate to the world the treasures of
His grace, the unsearchable riches of
Christ."—Christ's
Object Lessons,
page
419.
11.
To meet the needs of this crisis
hour, what messages of warning are
sent to the world? Rev. 14:6-12.
12.
What further message of en-
lightenment comes from heaven to
awaken the church and the peoples of
earth? Rev. 18:1-4.
NoTE.—"The work of this angel [of
Rev. 18] comes in at the right time to
join in the last great work of the third
angel's message, as it swells to a loud
cry. . . . I saw a great light resting upon
them [`the people of God'], and they
united to fearlessly proclaim the third an-
gel's message. . . .
"The light that was shed upon the wait-
ing ones penetrated everywhere. . . . I
saw that this message will close with
power and strength far exceeding the mid-
night cry.
"Servants of God, endowed with power
from on high, with their faces lighted
up, and shining with holy consecration,
went forth to proclaim the message from
heaven."—Early
Writings,
pages 277-279.
13.
When the final outpouring of
redeeming grace has brought full re-
demption to the saints in heaven, in
what words do they praise God?
Rev. 15:3.
NOTE.—"God has a church on earth who
are lifting up the downtrodden law, and
presenting to the world the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sins of the world.
The church is the depositary of the wealth
of the riches of the grace of Christ, and
through the church eventually will be made
manifest the final and full display of the
love of God to the world that is to be
lightened with its
glory."—Testimonies to
Ministers,
page 50.
[ 46 ]
THIRTEENTH SABBATH OFFERING
June 28, 1969
South American Division
The overflow of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering to be taken in Sab-
bath Schools around the world on June 28 will go to the South American
Division. Three schools in this great division will benefit from this offer-
ing. They are as follows:
1.
Chile College. This institution urgently needs a new dormitory for
the boys. For almost thirty years they have been living in a provisional
one, erected after the 1939 earthquake, which badly damaged the original.
It was built for 150 students. There are now 260.
2.
Northeast Brazil College. This college does not have a suitable
place in which to hold religious meetings. The present meeting place
provides no shelter against rain or sun. The most urgent need is for an
auditorium that would serve as a chapel.
3.
Espirito Santo Academy. This is a new institution at Colatina,
Espirito Santo, Brazil. The girls' dormitory is in bad shape. It is an old
house, completely inadequate.
Our brethren in South America are counting strongly on the proverbial
Seventh-day Adventist liberality to provide funds to meet these urgent
needs. Won't you do your best when the offering is taken on June 28?
Lessons for the Third Quarter of 1969
Sabbath School members who have not received a senior
Lesson Quarterly
for
the third quarter of 1969 will be helped by the following outline in studying the
first lesson. The title of the series is "Divine Commands and Promises." The title
of the first lesson is "Look Now Toward Heaven." The memory verse is Genesis
15:5. The texts to be studied are:
Ques. 1. Gen. 15:1, 2, 5.
Ques. 2. Gen. 15:1.
Ques. 3. Gen. 15:5, 7.
Ques. 4. Gen. 15:6; Heb. 11:6.
Ques. 5. Heb. 11:27.
Ques. 6. Rev. 4:1, 2.
[47]
Ques. 7. Ps. 36:5; 90:14.
Ques. 8. John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-11.
Ques. 9. Ps. 121:1, 2.
Ques. 10. Isa. 40:26, 28-31; Matt. 28:18.
Ques. 11. Luke 21:25-28.
Ques. 12. Col. 3:1-4.
ESPIRITO SANTO ACADEMY
GIRLS' DORMITORY
BOLIVIA
LA PAZ
NORTHEAST BRAZIL
COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
QUITO
ECUADOR
—I ii
I Ili I
RECIFE •
VITORIA
RIO DE JANEIRO
CHILE COLLEGE
BOYS
DORMITORY
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
ARGENTINA
SANTIAGO
URUGUAY
DE CHILE
MONTEVIDEO
CHILLAN
BUENOS AIRES
SOUTH AMERICAN
DIVISION
Church
Sob. Sch.
Unions
22ilatu
Churches
Memb.
Memb.
Austral
25,280,348
131
20,341
19,061
Chile
8,377,821
81
13,784
10,657
East Brazil
39,254,000
185
39,789
38,333
Inca
21,312,500
182
48,311
44,456
North
Brazil
11,545,000
39
13,466
12,668
South Brazil
34,723,000
276
....
70,448
70,469
TOTALS
140,492,669
894
206,139
195,644
PACIFIC
OCEAN